SB3045_H_Cmte_Amend

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 Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024.... $ 26,177,477.00.

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services which are collected by or otherwise become available for the purpose of defraying expenses of the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services as established in Section 27-104-203, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024........ $ 25,252,878.00.

The funds in this section are provided to defray the costs incurred by the Department of Information Technology Services for providing telecommunication services, data center services, and/or other information technology services to state agencies.

SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, the following positions are authorized:

AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT:

Permanent: 122

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 2025 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2024 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agency’s Fiscal Year 2024 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 2024 do not exceed the data provided by the Legislative Budget Office. If the agency’s Fiscal Year 2024 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 4. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, it is the intention of the Legislature that the Executive Director of Information Technology Services (ITS) shall have authority to transfer an amount not to exceed Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00) to the ITS Revolving Fund (3360900000). The purpose of this authority is to provide operating cash to alleviate cash flow problems in the ITS Revolving Fund. Any funds transferred during the fiscal year shall be transferred back to the State General Fund before the end of the lapse period for the fiscal year.

SECTION 5. In addition to all other funds appropriated herein, the following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund, not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Wireless Communication Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024..................................................

............................................... $ 11,136,475.00.

The Wireless Communication Commission shall follow all state procurement and bid laws for all contracts and consultants.

SECTION 6. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, the following positions are authorized:

AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT:

Permanent: 10

Time-Limited: 0

The commission is hereby authorized to escalate federal funds and other special funds in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration.

SECTION 7. It is the intention of the Legislature that none of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act for the Wireless Communication Commission (WCC) shall be expended for the purpose of making a payment of any kind or for any purpose, directly or indirectly, to a member of the State of Mississippi Legislature, state official, WCC member, or person who has been a member of the WCC within the last year.

SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Information Technology Services shall maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure of all funds appropriated under the provisions of this act and that such records shall be in the same format and level of details as maintained for Fiscal Year 2023. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the budget request for Fiscal Year 2025 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 2024 budget request process.

SECTION 9. 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 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, 2023, and shall stand repealed from and after June 29, 2023.