MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hall, Burton, Gollott, White (5th), Carter, Minor, Moffatt, Ross, Simmons, Thames

Senate Bill 3233

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF SPECIAL FUNDS TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION FOR FISCAL YEAR 1999.  

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 Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission, for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred by said commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998, and ending June 30, 1999 $ 4,884,439.00.

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 $ 3,384,071.00

Travel and Subsistence 160,585.00

Contractual Services 973,909.00

Commodities 78,300.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 5,000.00

Equipment 77,574.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 205,000.00

Total $ 4,884,439.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 78

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 the policies established by the State Personnel Board and any conditions placed on such expenditures:

(a) The components of the Variable Compensation Plan shall be maintained within the constraints of the funds appropriated herein. Unless otherwise permitted by law, no single event, including promotion, reclassification or reallocation, shall exceed the greater of (1) the difference between the starting salary (start step) of the current classification and the new classification added to the employee's current salary (current step), or (2) the salary that could be paid to an equally qualified, newly hired employee. If an eligible employee is currently at or above the end salary for his or her job classification, then the increase authorized by subparagraphs (b), (c) and (d) shall be built into the employee's base salary. To be eligible, employees may not have a current performance rating below "meets expectations" (2.0), as of the effective date of the increase. Employees who subsequently receive a performance rating of "meets expectations" or above during Fiscal Year 1999 shall receive the salary increase effective the date of the rating.

(b) Funds are provided to adjust the Variable Compensation Plan, including realignment, to ensure that all full time employees receive a minimum increase of Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) and not more than Nine Hundred Dollars ($900.00), to the next higher step.

(c) Funds are provided for MH-Direct Care Worker Classifications to receive an average increase of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). It is the intention of the Legislature that MH-Direct Care Worker Classifications increases resulting from the provisions of Senate Bill No. 2100, 1997 Regular Session, may be fully implemented as funds become available.

(d) Funds are provided for a Nine Hundred Dollar ($900.00) increase for Information Technology positions. Agencies may effect additional increases in accordance with the Information Technology Special Compensation Plan established by the State Personnel Board as funds become available.

It is the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2000 do not exceed Fiscal Year 1999 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs 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. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated in Section 1 and authorized for expenditure in Section 2 that the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission shall enter into a contract with the industrial private sector for the purpose of implementing a safety education and training program.

SECTION 4. With the funds provided herein, it is the intent of the Legislature that the Workers' Compensation Commission may transfer a sum or sums not to exceed Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) from the Administration Expense Fund to the Second Injury Fund.

SECTION 5. Funds are included under the provisions of this act to defray the cost of realigning the annual salary of the Workers' Compensation Claims Supervisor position (PIN 46) from pay step 291 to pay step 311.

SECTION 6. In addition to all other sums herein appropriated, the following sum is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission, and the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission is hereby authorized to transfer said funds from the Administrative Expense Fund to the credit of any Fraud Fund created in House Bill No. 428, 1998 Regular Session, for the support of the Insurance Integrity Enforcement Bureau within the Office of the Attorney General, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998, and ending June 30, 1999

$ 300,000.00.

Provided, however, it is the intention of the Legislature that in no case shall the amount transferred under the provisions of this section exceed the maximum amount specified for the application of said Bureau within the general legislation enacted to create said Bureau in the 1998 Session.

SECTION 7. In addition to any other funds herein appropriated, the following sum is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998, and ending June 30, 1999 $ 150,000.00.

This appropriation is made for the repair, renovation and expenses related to the usage of the Workers' Compensation Building. The funds appropriated in this section shall be transferred to the Bureau of Building, Grounds, and Real Property Management for the purpose of defraying the costs of said repairs and renovations.

SECTION 8. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in this act, 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 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.