MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2004 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Gordon, Little, Chaney, Burton, Frazier, Harden, Moffatt

Senate Bill 3119

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005.

     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 University of Mississippi Medical Center for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004, and ending

June 30, 2005............................... $   131,139,243.00.

SECTION 2.  The following sum of money, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized and approved for expenditure out of the proceeds derived from patient fees, student fees or any other special source funds which are collected by or otherwise become available, for the support and maintenance of The University of Mississippi Medical Center for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2004, and ending June 30, 2005..................................................

............................................ $   491,834,224.00.

     SECTION 3.  Any 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and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.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.  With the funds appropriated and authorized for expenditure under the provisions of Section 1 and Section 2, the University of Mississippi Medical Center shall maintain the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry, the School of Nursing, the School of Health Related Professions, the Teaching Hospital and the Medical Center Service Area.  The University of Mississippi Medical Center shall prepare and make available to the Legislature an accounting of expenditures for each of the divisions listed in this section at the beginning of the legislative session.

     SECTION 5.  Due to critical nurse shortages and staffing, it is the intention of the Legislature to enhance recognition of excellence and expand the experience factor in attracting qualified registered nurses.

     SECTION 6.  Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, and the funds authorized to be expended in Section 2, none may be used to provide medical services on behalf of any state agency, institution or political subdivision, except to the extent that such agency, institution or political subdivision reimburses the hospital for the cost of the services provided.  Upon the rendering of medical services to any such agency, institution or political subdivision, the hospital shall issue an invoice for the charges which shall be paid within ninety (90) days.  In the event that payment is not made within ninety (90) days, the hospital shall discontinue providing services to that agency, institution, or political subdivision until all outstanding charges have been paid.

     SECTION 7.  Any funds appropriated pursuant to this act and paid as a fee to or deposited in a financial institution shall be in compliance with Section 109 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi and Section 25-4-103, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     SECTION 8.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the University of Mississippi Medical Center's budget request for Fiscal Year 2006 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail provided during the Fiscal Year 2005 budget request process.

     SECTION 9.  Of the funds authorized for expenditure in Section 2, Three Million Eight Hundred Fifty-four Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Dollars ($3,854,830.00) shall be derived from the Education Enhancement Fund from funds deposited pursuant to Sections 27-65-75 and 27-67-31, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     SECTION 10.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2, Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00) shall be derived from the Budget Contingency Fund created in Section 27-103-301, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     SECTION 11.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2, Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00) shall be derived from the Health Care Expendable Fund created in Section 43-13-407, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the support and maintenance of the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

     SECTION 12.  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 13.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.