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 COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE 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 Cooperative Extension Service for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 17,678,964.00.

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 Cooperative Extension Service for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 12,026,937.00.

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and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.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 the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service provide programs in the emphasis areas of Agriculture, Home Economics, 4-H, and Community Resource Development in each county.

SECTION 5. No part of the funds appropriated or authorized to be expended hereby shall be spent directly or indirectly for payment of attorneys' fees for the services of any attorney who was not employed by the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service pursuant to the express authorization of the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning prior to performance of such legal services.

SECTION 6. 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 7. It is the intent 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 8. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, the following amounts shall be derived from the Education Enhancement Fund as follows:

(a) One Million Fifty-one Thousand One Hundred One

Dollars ($1,051,101.00) shall be derived from funds

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

Mississippi Code of 1972.

(b) One Hundred Forty Thousand Five Hundred Seventy-two

Dollars ($140,572.00) shall be derived from funds

deposited pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1),

Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 9. 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

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Education Contacts 905,000

Family and Consumer Education

Educational Contacts (Persons) 713,000

Enterprise and Community Resource Development

Number of Educational Contacts 185,000

4-H Youth Development

Educational Contacts (Contacts) 620,000

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 10. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) shall be allocated to the Delta Branch Research and Extension Station for a Cotton Specialist and the related supportive costs.

SECTION 11. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated in Section 1 and authorized for expenditure in Section 2, Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) shall be allocated to defray the costs of the Northeast Mississippi Swine Demonstration Unit located at the Pontotoc Branch Experiment Station.

SECTION 12. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, an Extension Beef Specialist position shall be funded.

SECTION 13. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, an Area Aquaculture Agent for East Central Mississippi shall be funded.

SECTION 14. 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 15. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.