MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Little, Gordon, Huggins, Dearing, Burton, Mettetal, Dawkins, Gollott, Hewes, Williamson, Horhn, Minor, Jordan, Harden
AN ACT MAKING AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF STATE GENERAL FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSE OF MATCHING FEDERAL FUNDS TO MAXIMIZE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE HIRING OF ADDITIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. In addition to all other sums heretofore appropriated, 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, to defray the expenses of the Department of Human Services for the period beginning upon passage and ending June 30, 2003$250,000.00.
SECTION 2. This additional appropriation is made for the purpose of authorizing state funds to match federal funds for the hiring of additional social workers at the Department of Human Services. The State General Funds appropriated herein represent funds transferred into the State General Fund by Attorney General Mike Moore resulting from a settlement in a multi-state investigation of Bridgestone/Firestone. Not less than One Hundred Eighty-seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($187,500.00) of the funds appropriated herein shall be allocated to counties in which social worker case loads are in excess of one hundred (100) cases per social worker as reported by the most recent survey of the Mississippi Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. The department is authorized to establish new full-time, permanent DHS-social-worker positions as necessary to carry out this act, not to exceed the number of authorized positions in FY2001. The State General Fund cost of these new positions shall not exceed the amount appropriated in Section 1.
SECTION 3. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in 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 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and through June 30, 2003.