MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Gordon, Thames, Stogner, Burton, Carlton, Hamilton, Posey, Williamson

Senate Bill 3152

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY 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 General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Board, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, and ending

June 30, 2003$     1,117,741.00.

SECTION 2.  The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized for expenditure out of any special source funds which are collected by or otherwise become available for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Board, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003$       641,259.00.

     SECTION 3.  With the funds appropriated under the provisions of Sections 1 and 2, the following positions are authorized:

  AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent:          Full Time      25

Part Time       0

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 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.

     SECTION 4.  It is the intention of the Legislature, contingent upon passage of Senate Bill No. 2873, 2002 Regular Session, that all funds, property and other assets, including all current positions of the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Board, shall be transferred to the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University on July 1, 2002.

     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 July 1, 2002.