Appropriation; Educational Television, Authority for.

HB 1824 appropriates nearly $11.2 million from state funds to cover the operating expenses of the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television for fiscal year 2025. The bill authorizes the agency to maintain a workforce of up to 87 employees, including 80 permanent and 7 time-limited positions, while strictly prohibiting the use of these funds for salary increases or promotions of current staff. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the majority of funding be prioritized for maintaining an existing broadcast schedule of educational and public service programs, with new content production as a secondary goal. The act also establishes specific performance targets for the agency, such as producing a set number of local TV and radio programs and serving a defined number of students through digital education networks. Finally, the bill includes provisions ensuring that funds are not used for public relations activities for other state agencies and that all financial records are kept in a detailed, auditable format.