MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representative Warren, Scott (17th), Brown, Ellzey, Frierson, Peranich, Weathersby

House Bill 1805

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI AUTHORITY FOR EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2003.

     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 purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003   $     5,847,376.00.

SECTION 2.  The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the Authority, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Authority for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003.......................................

............................................ $     5,781,254.00.

     SECTION 3.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 and Section 2, 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$     5,131,209.00

Travel and Subsistence..............        112,600.00

Contractual Services.....................      4,794,084.00

Commodities..............................        615,537.00

     Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment................              0.00

Equipment...........................        975,000.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants..............            200.00

Total.............................. $    11,628,630.00

  FUNDING:

General Funds........................... $     5,847,376.00

Special Funds............................      5,781,254.00

Total.............................. $    11,628,630.00

  AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent:    Full Time...........      135

Part Time...........        1

Time-Limited:Full Time...........       13

Part Time...........        0

     Funds are provided herein to adjust the Variable Compensation Plan to ensure that all full-time employees receive a pay increase equal to fifty percent (50%) of the realignment component of the Variable Compensation Plan or Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00), whichever is greater, beginning on January 1, 2003.

     With the funds herein appropriated, it is the intention of the Legislature that it shall be the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2004 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2003 funds appropriated for that purpose, unless programs, positions or pay increases are added to the agency's budget by the Mississippi Legislature.  Based on data provided by the Legislative Budget Office, the State Personnel Board shall, on July 1, 2002, publish separate annual projection reports, based on July 1, 2002, data, for the period of July 1, 2002, through December 31, 2002, and January 1, 2003, through June 30, 2003, that project the annual cost to fully fund all appropriated positions in compliance with the provisions of this act.  It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to ensure that no single personnel action increases this projected cost and/or the Fiscal Year 2003 appropriation for "Personal Services," as annualized on a semiannual basis in accordance with the provisions of this act.  If, at the end of any calendar month, the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken action(s) which would cause the agency to exceed this projected annual cost or the Fiscal Year 2003 "Personal Services" appropriated level, when annualized in compliance with the provisions of this act, then only those actions which reduce the projected annual cost and/or the appropriation requirement will be processed by the State Personnel Board until such time as the requirements of this provision are met.

     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.

     Funds appropriated herein shall first be used for the continuation of a full and complete broadcast schedule of educational and instructional, professional growth, and public service programs, with the production of new films and programs to be secondary thereto.

     SECTION 4.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2, One Million Six Hundred Forty-four Thousand Sixty-seven Dollars ($1,644,067.00) shall be derived from the Education Enhancement Fund deposited pursuant to Sections 27-65-75 and 27-67-31, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     SECTION 5.  No part of the funds appropriated herein shall be transferred to, expended by, or used, directly or indirectly, for the benefit of any public relations, publicity or publication activities of any other state agency, department or officer, nor shall any personnel paid or equipment purchased with funds appropriated hereby be transferred or assigned to any other state agency, department or officer for public relations, publicity or publication activities of such office.

     SECTION 6.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television shall have the authority to expend funds in the Capital Equipment Replacement Revolving Fund, in accordance with Section 37-63-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, Annotated, for the purpose of purchasing technical equipment for operating the educational radio and television facilities.

     SECTION 7.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television shall have the authority to escalate its budget and expend funds from any source not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

     SECTION 8.  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:

                                                          FY2003

Performance Measures                                      Target

Learning Services

     Educators Trained (IVN and On-Site)                   6,000

     Student IVN Courses                                     200

     Enrolled IVN Students                                 4,300

     Printed Items Distributed (Actions)                  60,000

     Instructional TV Cost per Student (Cents)              0.48

Television

     Broadcast Hours Produced (Actions)                      229

     Production Cost (Per Hour)                           11,079

     Broadcast Hours Purchased (Actions)                   8,424

     Program Purchase Cost (Per Hour)                        208

Radio

     PRM Produced Features (Actions)                         155

     Remote Concerts Recorded (Actions)                       48

     Radio Reading of MS Receivers (Persons)                 250

Technical Services

     Equipment Evaluation Inquiries (Actions)                150

     Satellite Maintenance Calls (Actions)                   175

     Statewide Field Strength Measurements                   175

     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 2004.

     SECTION 9.  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 10.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.