MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

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

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF SPECIAL FUNDS TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI FAIR COMMISSION, THE MISSISSIPPI LIVESTOCK COLISEUM AND THE INDUSTRIAL SHOWCASE AND TRADE MART BUILDING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2000.

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 Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Fair Commission for the purpose of defraying the expenses of said Mississippi Fair Commission, the Mississippi Livestock Coliseum, the Industrial Showcase, the Trade Mart Building and for the purpose of paying any indebtedness which may accrue for the period beginning upon passage and ending June 30, 2000 $ 3,335,921.00.

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 $ 1,403,271.00

Travel and Subsistence 10,000.00

Contractual Services 1,541,650.00

Commodities 175,000.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 33,000.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 173,000.00

Total $ 3,335,921.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 17

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 42

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.

(b) Funds are provided to adjust the Variable Compensation Plan, including realignment, to ensure that all full-time employees with at least six (6) months of continuous current service, as of June 30, 1999, receive an increase of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). Funds are provided to adjust critical job classes up to an additional One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

(c) If an employee is currently at or above the end salary for his or her job classification, then the increase shall be built into the employee's base salary. To be eligible for any increase authorized in this section, employees may not have a current performance rating below "meets expectations" as of the effective date of the increase. Employees who subsequently receive a performance rating of "meets expectations" or above during Fiscal Year 2000 shall receive the salary increase effective the date of the rating.

It is the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2001 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2000 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. No operation, maintenance or service contracts, agreements or obligations for commodities, concessions, or catering services, shall be entered into or renewed by this agency for a period of more than three (3) years nor unless said contracts, agreements or obligations have been made in accordance with Sections 31-7-11, 31-7-13, 31-7-55 and 31-7-57, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 4. With the funds appropriated herein, not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), the Mississippi Fair Commission shall conduct a feasibility study to determine the financial and economic impact of having a professional hockey league based in the Mississippi Coliseum. The Mississippi Fair Commission shall provide a report of this feasibility study to the Legislature no later than January 5, 2000.

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 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 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and through June 30, 2000.