MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2003 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Little, Gordon, Huggins, Dearing, Burton, Mettetal, Dawkins, Gollott, Hewes, Williamson, Horhn, Minor, Jordan, Harden, Cuevas, Lee, Harvey, Furniss

Senate Bill 2327

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION OF STATE GENERAL FUNDS AND BUDGET CONTINGENCY FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSE OF MATCHING FEDERAL FUNDS TO MAXIMIZE FUNDS AVAILABLE TO ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO HIRE ADDITIONAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE SOCIAL WORKERS AND TO DIRECT THE STATE TREASURER TO TRANSFER SPECIAL FUNDS TO THE BUDGET CONTINGENCY FUND FOR THE 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.

     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 multistate investigation of Bridgestone/Firestone.  

     SECTION 2.  In addition to all other sums previously appropriated, the following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the Budget Contingency Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Department of Human Services for the purposes specified in Section 3 of this act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003............$  900,000.00.

     SECTION 3.  (1)  This additional appropriation is made for the purpose of providing additional funds to the Department of Human Services to enable the department to hire additional protective service social workers, in accordance with the provisions of this section.  This act shall apply only to Department of Human Services protective service social worker occupational classes and their immediate supervisors.

     (2)  The funds appropriated by this act may be expended only when the average caseload per protective service social worker in a county is fifty (50) or more.  When that caseload situation exists, the Department of Human Services shall use the funds appropriated by this act (a) to increase the starting salary of protective service social worker new hires by up to three percent (3%), and (b) for equity and retention purposes, to increase the salaries of existing protective service social workers and their immediate supervisors by up to three percent (3%).

     (3)  The department is authorized to escalate, budget and expend Special Funds received from any source to carry out the provisions of this act and is authorized to establish full-time permanent Department of Human Services protective service Social Worker positions as necessary.

     SECTION 4.  The State Treasurer shall transfer to the Budget Contingency Fund created in Section 27-103-301, out of the following enumerated special funds, the amount listed below on or before March 1, 2003.

          Agency/Fund                           Amount

     Secretary of State Fund No. 3114          $  400,000.00

     Secretary of State Fund No. 3111          $  500,000.00

     Total                                   $  900,000.00

     In addition to the amount transferred to the Budget Contingency Fund under the provisions of this act, the Budget Contingency Fund may receive any additional funds that may become available to the fund from any source during Fiscal Year 2003.

     SECTION 5.  The money appropriated by this act shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the proper fund or funds, not otherwise appropriated, 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, 2004.