Senate Bill 3026

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023.

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 incurred by the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023 $ 5,648,867.00.

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission for the purpose of defraying the expenses for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending June 30, 2023................... $ 75,000.00

SECTION 3. 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 Second Injury Fund (Fund Number 3352300000) for the purpose of making payments under the provisions of Section 71-3-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and ending

June 30, 2023.................................... $ 100,000.00.

SECTION 4. With the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, the following positions are authorized:

AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT:

Permanent: 55

Time-Limited: 0

With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required for Personal Services for Fiscal Year 2024 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2023 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2023 budget by the Mississippi Legislature. The Legislature shall determine the agency's personal services appropriation, which shall be published by the State Personnel Board. Additionally, the State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annualized payroll costs based on current employees. It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to ensure that actual personnel expenditures for Fiscal Year 2023 do not exceed the data provided by the Legislative Budget Office. If the agency's Fiscal Year 2023 projected cost exceeds the annualized costs, no salary actions shall be processed by the State Personnel Board with the exception of new hires that are determined to be essential for the agency.

Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions and procedures established by law or allowable under the terms set forth within this act. The State Personnel Board shall not escalate positions without written approval from the Department of Finance and Administration. The Department of Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to escalate any funds for salaries and/or positions without proof of availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated level.

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.

None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in violation of Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor.

Funds have been appropriated herein for the purpose of funding Project SEC2 minimum salaries for all employees covered under the Colonel Guy Groff/Neville Kenning Variable Compensation Plan. It shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that the funds are used to increase all employees' salaries up to the minimum level as determined by the State Personnel Board.

SECTION 5. It is the intention of the Legislature that with the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission shall enter into a contract with the industrial private sector for the purpose of implementing a safety education and training program.

SECTION 6. In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below:

FY2023

Performance Measures Target

Adjudication

Number of Cases Resolved at the

Administrative or Commission Level

within 3 Months 900

Number of Cases Resolved at the

Administrative or Commission Level

within 6 Months 950

Number of Cases Resolved at the

Administrative or Commission Level

within 9 Months 900

Number of Cases Resolved at the

Administrative or Commission Level

within 1 Year 900

Self-insurance

Percent of Individual Self-Insurers

Reviewed in the Past Fiscal Year 34.00

Percent of Individual Self-Insurer

Reviews Conducted in the Past Fiscal

Year Showing That Reserves are

Insufficient to Cover Claims 5.00

Percent of Self-Insurance Groups Reviewed 100.00

Percent of Self-Insurance Group Reviews

Conducted Showing That Reserves are

Insufficient to Cover Claims 0.00

Medical Cost Containment

Fee Schedule Adjustments (Cost in Millions) 35.00

Medical Cost Savings to Payers (as a %

of Total Billings) 46.00

A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 2024.

SECTION 7. It is the intention of the Legislature that whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are made without competitive bids.

SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that the salary of the Workers' Compensation Commission members shall be equal and the salary of the commission chairman shall exceed these salaries as approved by the State Personnel Board.

SECTION 9. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 of this act, Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00), or so much thereof, shall be derived out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Capital Expense Fund, as created in Section 27-103-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, and allocated in a manner as determined by the Treasurer's Office. This appropriation is made for the purpose of upgrades to the commission's imaging system and other equipment.

SECTION 10. It is the intention of the Legislature that the funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for actions contrary to this provision.

SECTION 11. 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 12. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.