MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Gordon, Thames, Stogner, Burton, Carlton, Hamilton, Posey, Williamson
AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE, AND GRAIN DIVISION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2004.
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 State Department of Agriculture and Commerce, including the Divisions of Support, Grain and Plant Industry, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and ending June 30, 2004 $ 7,424,095.00.
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 State Department of Agriculture and Commerce, including the Divisions of Support, Grain and Plant Industry, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and ending June 30, 2004...... $ 5,204,183.00.
The funds authorized for expenditure under the provisions of this section include subscription fees produced from the Market Bulletin and admission fees produced from the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum.
SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Sections 1 and 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$ 8,901,373.00
Travel and Subsistence.............. 144,452.00
Contractual Services..................... 1,445,500.00
Commodities.............................. 406,816.00
Capital Outlay:
Other Than Equipment................ 0.00
Equipment........................... 1,273,035.00
Subsidies, Loans and Grants.............. 457,102.00
Total.............................. $ 12,628,278.00
FUNDING:
General Funds........................... $ 7,424,095.00
Special Funds............................ 5,204,183.00
Total.............................. $ 12,628,278.00
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:
Permanent: Full Time........... 197
Part Time........... 5
Time-Limited:Full Time........... 18
Part Time........... 0
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. The funds appropriated and authorized to be expended under the provisions of this act shall be expended for the purpose of defraying all expenses incurred by the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce in the operation of all programs and activities (except operation of the State Lime Plants, Veterinary Laboratory, Pink Bollworm-Plant Quarantine Inspection Stations and Fire Ant Program) authorized to be conducted and carried on by said department; including, but not limited to: the administration of the Feed, Fertilizer and Dairy Act; the Weights and Measure Act; the Meat Inspection Act of 1968; the Mississippi Pure Seed Law; and the following additional programs and activities: enforcement of the egg law; publication and distribution of the Mississippi Market Bulletin, agricultural statistics, market news service at Stoneville, Mississippi; operation of the grain laboratory; inspection, grading and certifying of fruits, vegetables, hay, grain, meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, pecans, seed, syrup, and port grain inspection.
SECTION 5. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall, from time to time, adjust the schedule of fees collected under the grain inspection program so that the revenue therefrom equals or exceeds the operational costs of the grain inspection program and the expenses incurred in complying with the requirements of the United States Grain Standards Act, Public Law 94-583.
SECTION 6. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, with the assistance of the State Department of Audit and the Department of Finance and Administration, shall establish nonbudgeted enterprise funds for all "for profit" activities related to the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. The funds shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and regulations prescribed by the Department of Finance and Administration.
SECTION 7. It is the intention of the Legislature that any regulations promulgated by the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce concerning the labeling of liming materials include the actual analysis of said lime. Nothing in the regulations shall prevent any manufacturer from selling his products to any consumer as long as the labeling is accurate.
SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce is hereby authorized to accept, budget and expend funds from any source in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.
SECTION 9. 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 Beaver Control Program or from any other special source funds made available to the Beaver Control Program, to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the support of the Beaver Control Program for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and ending June 30, 2004.......................................
............................................ $ 518,000.00.
Of the special funds authorized in this Section, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) shall be derived from funds received from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, and Two Hundred Sixty-eight Thousand Dollars ($268,000.00) shall be derived from counties and from fees charged private persons/organizations.
SECTION 10. It is the intention of the Legislature that none of the funds appropriated by this act shall be expended for increased charges for State and School Employees' Health Insurance Plan premium rates assessed by the Department of Finance and Administration in excess of the Fiscal Year 2003 premium rates for the health insurance plan.
SECTION 11. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, Ninety-nine Thousand Eight Hundred Eighty-five Dollars ($99,885.00) may be used to reallocate or reclassify existing positions of this agency.
SECTION 12. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) may be transferred from the Grain Division to the Farmers Central Market to defray the cost of operations at the Farmers Central Market.
SECTION 13. 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 14. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2003.