MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representatives Watson, Stevens, Bourdeaux, Bowles, Coleman (29th), Denny, Perry

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2000.

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 any special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Department of Insurance which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the department, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the department for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000 $ 6,751,690.00.

SECTION 2. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1 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 $ 4,460,928.00

Travel and Subsistence 326,277.00

Contractual Services 1,537,549.00

Commodities 205,398.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 221,538.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 0.00

Total $ 6,751,690.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 112

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 0

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 0

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 0

From the funds provided in the budget category "Personal Services: Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits," funds may be expended for the following purposes, in compliance with the policies established by the State Personnel Board and any conditions placed on such expenditures:

(a) The components of the Variable Compensation Plan shall be maintained within the constraints of the funds appropriated herein.

(b) Funds are provided to adjust the Variable Compensation Plan, including realignment, to ensure that all full-time employees with at least six (6) months of continuous current service, as of June 30, 1999, receive an increase of One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). Funds are provided to adjust critical job classes up to an additional One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

(c) If an employee is currently at or above the end salary for his or her job classification, then the increase shall be built into the employee's base salary. To be eligible for any increase authorized in this section, employees may not have a current performance rating below "meets expectations" as of the effective date of the increase. Employees who subsequently receive a performance rating of "meets expectations" or above during Fiscal Year 2000 shall receive the salary increase effective the date of the rating.

It is the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2001 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2000 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agency's budget by the Mississippi Legislature.

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 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1, and authorized for expenditure in Section 2, Twenty-four Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-six Dollars ($24,896.00) is provided for the Mississippi Fire Personnel Minimum Standards and Certification Board.

SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Department of Insurance be allowed to escalate its budget and expend funds not to exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) from the special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the Rural Fire Truck Fund for the administration of the Rural Fire Truck Acquisition Assistance Program. This escalation shall be done in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

Notwithstanding the amount authorized in this section, in no event shall the amount escalated exceed the unexpended balance as of June 30, 1999, or change the purpose for which the funds were originally authorized in Section 17-23-1, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 5. The Legislature provides Fifteen Thousand Nine Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($15,975.00) in additional salary adjustments for unique job classifications to take to start step.

SECTION 6. Funds are provided in this act for the reallocation of a Branch Director I to a Branch Director II not to exceed Four Thousand Ninety-six Dollars ($4,096.00).

SECTION 7. Funds are provided in this act for the reclassification of four (4) Consumer Service Specialist I to Consumer Service Specialist II not to exceed Twelve Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty-one Dollars ($12,721.00).

SECTION 8. 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 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.