MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hall, Burton, Woodfield, Carter, Gollott, Stogner, Walls

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOR FISCAL YEAR 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 Department of Economic and Community Development for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending

June 30, 1998 $ 29,960,748.00.

SECTION 2. 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 Department of Economic and Community Development or the appropriate special fund for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred in the operation of the various divisions of the department for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998

$ 101,776,836.00.

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

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 331

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 7

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 43

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 3

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.

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. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, the amount of Four Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($450,000.00) shall be provided from the Motor Carrier Regulation Account to defray the expenses of the Department of Economic and Community Development in operating the state welcome centers.

SECTION 5. The acceptance and expenditure of funds, and interest on such funds, received from, or by virtue of consent or other orders of or agreements involving any agency, instrumentality, or judicial tribunal of any state or the United States for petroleum price compliance and allocation which may become available during the 1998 fiscal year for the support of the Department of Economic and Community Development or any programs sponsored under the terms of the receipt of these funds are hereby authorized not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) and approved, provided such receipts and expenditures are reported and otherwise accounted for in accordance with Section 27-103-101 et seq., and Section 27-104-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Economic and Community Development is hereby authorized to escalate and expend funds from any source not to exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

SECTION 7. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Economic and Community Development 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. 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 1998 budget request process.

SECTION 8. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, the amount of Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($7,500,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is provided for the purpose of supporting Mississippi Tourism Advertising and Promotion for Fiscal Year 1998.

It is the intention of the Legislature that any funds authorized in this section which are not expended for direct support of tourism advertising and promotion shall not be expended for any other purpose and shall lapse into the State General Fund at the end of fiscal year 1998.

SECTION 9. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, the amount of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is provided for the purpose of supporting, marketing, and facilitating Mississippi business growth for Fiscal Year 1998.

It is the intention of the Legislature that any funds authorized in this section which are not expended for supporting, marketing and facilitating business growth in Mississippi shall not be expended for any other purpose and shall lapse into the State General Fund at the end of fiscal year 1998.

SECTION 10. 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 National Development

Recruitment contacts (Actions) 5,950

Minority business contacts (Actions) 4,087

Minority business certifications (Actions) 270

Qualified prospects (Prospects) 270

International Development

Investment contacts (Entities) 250

Trade contacts (Entities) 988

Investment prospects (Prospects) 42

Financial Resources

Requests for financing or incentives (Actions) 440

Tourism Development

Number of tourist inquiries generated(#) 366,651

Welcome Centers

Tourists registered (Persons) 2,970,000

Existing Industry & Business

Interactions with interested businesses (actions) 7,557

Businesses assisted (Entities) 2,550

Energy

BTUs saved (Units in trillions) 65

Clients served (Entities) 31,500

Employment Training

Successful program completion by clients (%) 78

Clients served (Persons) 12,460

Community Services

Amount of grants awarded ($) 41,900,000

Grants and loans awarded (Items) 161

Community programs delivered (Programs) 160

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 11. Of the funds provided herein, the amount of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is provided for advertising/promotion of the United States Ladies Open PGA Tournament, if the tournament is held in the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 12. Of the funds appropriated herein, the amount of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is provided for the Mississippi Science and Technology Commission to develop a comprehensive assessment of the state's science and technology opportunities.

SECTION 13. Of the funds appropriated herein, the amount of Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is provided for the Splendors of Versailles exhibition.

SECTION 14. 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 Department of Economic and Community Development or the proper special fund, 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.