MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Gordon, Thames, Dearing, Gollott, Little, White (5th)

Senate Bill 3129

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF SPECIAL FUNDS TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE PERSONNEL BOARD FOR 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 Treasury to the credit of the State Personnel Board for the support and maintenance of the State Personnel Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003....

... $     5,218,860.00.

     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$     3,340,860.00

Travel and Subsistence        33,000.00

Contractual Services     1,650,000.00

Commodities       125,000.00

     Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment             0.00

Equipment        70,000.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants             0.00

Total$     5,218,860.00

   AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent:          Full Time      66

Part Time       2

Time-Limited:          Full Time       0

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 semi-annual 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.

SECTION 3.  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 State Personnel Board Training Fund account, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the State Personnel Board Training Seminars for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003.. $  553,893.00.

     It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Personnel Board Training Fund shall have the authority, should additional funds become available, to escalate and expend those funds in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration, in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

     The funds authorized under the provisions of this section shall be held separate and apart from all other funds in the State Treasury to the credit of the State Personnel Board.

     SECTION 4.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 3, 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$             0.00

Travel and Subsistence        12,000.00

Contractual Services       495,100.00

Commodities        46,793.00

     Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment             0.00

Equipment             0.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants             0.00

Total$       553,893.00

     SECTION 5.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Personnel Board shall have the authority to escalate and expend funds received from state agencies for reimbursement of costs associated with the hiring of court reporters used in the Employee Appeals Process.  Such funds shall be received and expended under the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

     SECTION 6.  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 7.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.