MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hall, Burton, Stogner, Jordan (18th), Kirby, Mettetal, Posey, White (5th)

Senate Bill 3146

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DIVISION OF PLANT INDUSTRY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE, FOR 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, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Division of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture and Commerce, for enforcement of the Mississippi Plant Act and plant quarantines promulgated thereunder, such as quarantines involving the white-fringed beetle, imported fire ant, sweet-potato weevil, and others, and for the control and eradication of such other serious pests and plant diseases where they are known to occur or may hereafter be found in Mississippi; enforcement of the Mississippi Bee Disease Law; the Mississippi Pest Control Law; the Mississippi Economic Poisons Act; and the law regulating the application of hormone-type herbicides by aircraft, including payment of the expenses of administering all phases of the Mississippi Pesticide Application Act of 1975, authorized by Sections 69-23-101, et seq., and 69-23-1, et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 1,479,822.00.

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of the proceeds derived from any special source funds which are collected by or otherwise become available for the support and maintenance of the Division of Plant Industry of the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998 $ 1,404,429.00.

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 $ 1,911,655.00

Travel and Subsistence 43,917.00

Contractual Services 631,372.00

Commodities 102,687.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 120,000.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 74,620.00

Total $ 2,884,251.00

FUNDING:

General Funds $ 1,479,822.00

Special Funds 1,404,429.00

Total $ 2,884,251.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 41

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 4

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 14

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 2

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 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.

SECTION 4. The money herein 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 Division of Plant Industry of the State Department of Agriculture, 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 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.