Topeka ? Kansas legislators negotiating the final version of a proposed state budget have decided to include $700,000 for a new Creative Arts Industry Commission.

The commission will be formed in July by the merger of the state’s Arts and Film Services commissions under legislation signed last week by Gov. Sam Brownback. The commission will part of the Department of Commerce, focusing on creating arts-related jobs.

Brownback proposed the merger and the appropriation of $200,000 for the commission for the fiscal year that starts in July.

In their versions of the budget, both chambers included $700,000 and authorized the new agency to hire three staffers.