MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

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

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL AND FORESTRY EXPERIMENT STATION 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 support and maintenance of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998 $ 18,246,158.00.

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized for expenditure out of any special source funds which are collected by or otherwise become available for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 7,669,289.00.

SECTION 3. 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and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.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. It is the intention of the Legislature that if the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act are used directly or indirectly to match or otherwise secure any federal grants, research grants or donations, such special source funds not classified as current restricted funds shall be added and accounted for under Section 2 of this act. Further, it is the intention of the Legislature that all such aforementioned special source funds be included in all reports and requests for the 1997 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature.

SECTION 5. It is 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 1998 budget request process.

SECTION 6. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, the following amounts shall be derived from the Education Enhancement Fund as follows:

(a) One Million Sixty-one Thousand Three Hundred Fifteen

Dollars ($1,061,315.00) shall be derived from funds

deposited pursuant to Sections 27-65-75 and 27-67-31,

Mississippi Code of 1972.

(b) Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00) shall be derived from funds deposited pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1), Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 7. In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below:

Performance Measures FY98 Target

Environment and Natural Resources

Number of Scientist FTE (Scientist Years) 3.94

Research Projects (Projects) 17.32

Appropriated Funds/Extramural Funds (Ratio) .53

Foods and Nutrition

Number of Scientist FTE (Scientist Years) 7.21

Research Projects (Projects) 12.33

Appropriated Funds/Extramural Funds (Ratio) .33

Economic and Social Issues

Number of Scientist FTE (Scientist Years) 13.28

Research Projects (Projects) 20.53

Appropriated Funds/Extramural Funds (Ratio) .44

Animal Production Systems

Number of Scientist FTE (Scientist Years) 32.63

Research Projects (Projects) 41.73

Appropriated Funds/Extramural Funds (Ratio) .53

Crop Production Systems

Number of Scientist FTE (Scientist Years) 43.58

Research Projects (Projects) 59.50

Appropriated Funds/Extramural Funds (Ratio) .49

Research Not Assigned To Specific Areas

Number of Scientist FTE (Scientist Years) 1.34

Research Projects (Projects) 5.00

Appropriated Funds/Extramural Funds (Ratio) .51

Support Services

Number of Scientist FTE (Scientist Years) 101.98

Research Projects (Projects) 157.21

Appropriated Funds/Extramural Funds (Ratio) .41

A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 1999.

SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds authorized for expenditure in Section 2, One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) shall be allocated to defray the costs of the Office of International Programs at Mississippi State University.

SECTION 9. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi State University - Division of Agriculture shall provide a level of support for the Delta Research and Extension Center for fiscal year 1998 which shall not be less than the amount allocated from fiscal year 1997 appropriated funds. The fiscal year 1998 level of support for the Delta Research and Extension Center from this appropriation shall not be reduced from the fiscal year 1997 allocated level due to fiscal year 1998 increases in funds self-generated by the Delta Research and Extension Center.

SECTION 10. It is the intention of the Legislature that all proceeds from the sale of timber at the Delta Experimental Forest - Stoneville shall be used in the construction of a multi-purpose facility or other capital improvements as needed, at the Stoneville Branch Station.

SECTION 11. 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 12. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.