MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hall, Burton, Thames, Blackmon, Farris, Gollott, Jackson, Johnson (19th)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH OUT OF SPECIAL FUNDS IN THE STATE TREASURY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF CERTAIN PROGRAMS OF THE DIVISION OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE, 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 the Mental Health Programs Fund to the Department of Mental Health for the purpose of defraying the expenses of certain programs of the Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998 $ 3,490,450.00.

SECTION 2. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1, 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 $ 255,931.00

Travel and Subsistence 21,000.00

Contractual Services 39,000.00

Commodities 6,500.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 21,000.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 3,147,019.00

Total $ 3,490,450.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 7

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

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

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

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 3. No funds appropriated under the provisions of this act shall be paid to or expended by any of the regional mental health centers unless such payment or expenditure shall be made pursuant to contracts or agreements approved by the State Fiscal Officer which are between the Department of Mental Health and such centers and which vest in the Department of Mental Health supervision, direction and control of personnel and programs funded under such contracts. Likewise, any such contracts shall provide for maintenance of adequate accounting records in a form acceptable to the Department of Finance and Administration for the expenditure of such funds; for periodic reports on such expenditures to the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Finance and Administration shall vest in the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Finance and Administration the right to audit such expenditures.

SECTION 4. 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:

FY98

Performance Measures Target

ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROGRAM

Residential Treatment Beds (Number) 550

Outpatient Admissions (Number) 4,330

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 5. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mental Health Programs 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 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.