MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hall, Burton, Dearing, Kirby, Mettetal, Walls

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE FOR FISCAL YEARS 1997 AND 1998.  

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

SECTION 1. The following sum of money, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to defray the expenses of the office of the State Treasurer for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997 and ending June 30, 1998

$ 727,173.00.

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the special fund entitled Abandoned Property Fund in the State Treasury for the purpose of defraying expenses of the State Treasurer in administering the Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property and certain other expenses of the office, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 1,100,088.00.

SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Sections 1 and 2, not more than the amounts set forth below shall be expended for the respective major objects or purposes of expenditure:

MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE:

Personal Services:

Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits $ 1,166,500.00

Travel and Subsistence 13,565.00

Contractual Services 539,981.00

Commodities 40,000.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 67,215.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 0.00

Total $ 1,827,261.00

FUNDING:

General Funds $ 727,173.00

Special Funds 1,100,088.00

Total $ 1,827,261.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 28

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

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 0

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

SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2, funds are included to defray the cost of reallocating four (4) positions at an annualized cost not to exceed Eight Thousand One Hundred Fourteen Dollars ($8,114.00).

SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2, funds in the amount of Fifteen Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($15,600.00.) are provided for the purpose of defraying the cost of any salary increases which may result from the enactment of any statutory salary increases during the 1997 Regular Session and said funds shall not be used for any other purpose.

SECTION 6. In addition to all other sums herein appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Education Improvement Trust Fund No. 3219 for the purpose of investing funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 80,000.00.

SECTION 7. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Abandoned Property Fund to defray the costs of the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 754,205.00.

The funds appropriated in this section shall be considered a loan from the Abandoned Property Fund to the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Administrative Fund, such loan to be repaid no later than June 30, 2000. In addition, any funds appropriated in fiscal year 1997 from the Abandoned Property Fund to defray the expenses of administering the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program shall also be considered a loan with said loan to be repaid no later than June 30, 1999.

With the funds appropriated in this section, the following positions are authorized:

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time . . . . . . . 3

SECTION 8. From the funds provided in this act, 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.

SECTION 9. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to accept, budget and expend an amount not to exceed Eight Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($825,000.00) from administrative fees charged for the administration of the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program and deposited in the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Administrative Fund, for fiscal years 1997 and 1998. Such funds shall be escalated in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

SECTION 10. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Treasurer is hereby authorized to accept, budget and expend funds for the purpose of defraying the cost of administering the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program for fiscal years 1997 and 1998, in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) which become available from interest earnings on any funds authorized for administration of said program. Such funds shall be escalated in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

SECTION 11. In addition to all other sums herein appropriated, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Trust Fund for the purpose of paying all amounts due for prepaid tuition contracts of the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998 $ 1,000,000.00.

SECTION 12. No part of the funds appropriated herein shall be used in the payment of attorney's fees, nor shall any of said funds be used either directly or indirectly, for the purpose of paying any clerk, stenographer, assistant, deputy or other person who may be related by blood or marriage within the third degree, computed by the rules of the civil law, to the official employing or having the right of employment or selection thereof; and in the event of any such payment, then the official or person approving and making or receiving such payment shall be jointly and severally liable to return to the State of Mississippi and to pay into the State Treasury three (3) times any such amount so paid or received, to be recovered at suit of the Attorney General; provided that when the relationship is by affinity and the person through whom the relationship was established is dead, this provision shall not apply.

SECTION 13. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, or the proper special funds, 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 14. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997, except for Sections 8 and 9, which shall take effect and be in force from and after passage.