MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representatives McCoy, Scott (17th), Barnett (92nd), Livingston, McInnis, Peranich, Read, Schoby, Vince

House Bill 1808

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND THE MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1998.  

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the State Board of Education for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi School for the Blind and the Mississippi School for the Deaf for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998 $ 9,146,390.00.

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Board of Education for the support of the Mississippi School for the Blind or the Mississippi School for the Deaf which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the schools, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the schools for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998 $ 1,322,259.00.

SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 and Section 2, the following positions are authorized:

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 215

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 40

 

 

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 3

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 0

From the funds provided in the budget category "Personal Services: Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits," funds may be expended for the following purposes, in compliance with policies established by the State Personnel Board and any conditions placed on such expenditure:

(a) The components of the Variable Compensation Plan shall be maintained within the constraints of the funds appropriated herein.

(b) Funds shall be used to fund the "Realignment" component at the requirement established by the State Personnel Board.

(c) Subsequent to the application of Realignment, as specified in Subparagraph (b), above, funds shall be used to provide all eligible state employees employed on or before June 30, 1996, a Three Hundred Dollar ($300.00) "In-Service" COLA base salary increase effective July 1, 1997.

(d) All eligible state employees employed on or before June 30, 1996, shall receive a one percent (1%) salary increase on the first day of the month following their anniversary hire date.

(e) To be eligible for the salary increases specified in Subparagraphs (c) and (d), above, employees must have a current overall performance appraisal rating of "meets expectations" (2.0), or above, on the effective date of the increase. Employees who, subsequent to their eligibility date, receive a performance appraisal rating of "meets expectations" (2.0), or above, during Fiscal Year 1998 shall receive the salary increase effective the date of the rating. If an eligible employee is currently at or above end step for his or her job classification, or should this salary increase cause an eligible employee's salary to exceed end step, that portion of the increase exceeding end step shall be built into the employee's base salary.

It is the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for Personal Services for Fiscal Year 1999 do not exceed Fiscal Year 1998 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs and/or positions are added to the agency's budget by the Mississippi Legislature.

Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures established by general law.

No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.

None of the funds herein provided shall be expended to hire any person on a contractual basis, for any period for any purpose, without the express prior approval of the State Personnel Director. The State Personnel Director shall consider, in approving such contracts, the availability of funds, the need for services, compliance with the State Compensation Plan and the qualifications of the persons offering to perform the services. The State Fiscal Officer shall not pay any warrant that is in violation of this section.

SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi School for the Blind and the Mississippi School for the Deaf shall maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure of all funds appropriated under this act and that such records shall be in the same format and level of detail as maintained for Fiscal Year 1997. The Department of Finance and Administration shall insure that financial controls comparable to those utilized for Fiscal Year 1997 are maintained throughout Fiscal Year 1998 for this agency. The State Personnel Board shall insure that personnel controls and records comparable to those utilized for Fiscal Year 1997 are maintained throughout Fiscal Year 1998 for this agency. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 1999 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail provided during the Fiscal Year 1997 budget request process.

SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be transferred out of the Mississippi Schools for the Blind and Deaf Repair and Renovation Fund 3912 to the Department of Finance and Administration, Office of General Services, in accordance with Section 65-1-163, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the purpose of funding repair and renovation needs for various building and grants projects at the Mississippi Schools for the Blind and Deaf.

SECTION 6. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Sections 1 and 2, and allocated in Section 3, funds are included to reallocate fifteen (15) positions at an annualized cost not to exceed One Hundred Eighty-three Thousand Nine Hundred Two Dollars ($183,902.00).

SECTION 7. The money appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, and the money appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the special fund to the credit of the State Board of Education for the support of the Mississippi School for the Blind or the Mississippi School for the Deaf, upon warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the proper person, officer or officers, in the manner provided by law.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.