MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representatives Livingston, Green (96th), Broomfield, Foster, Nettles, Vince

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES 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 the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the support and maintenance of the Department of Marine Resources for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000

$ 2,704,452.00.

SECTION 2. 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 Department of Marine Resources for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000 $ 3,476,649.00.

Of the funds appropriated in this section, Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000.00) is derived from the state excise taxes upon gasoline, oil and other petroleum products.

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 purpose of expenditure:

MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE:

Personal Services:

Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits $ 3,113,084.00

Travel and Subsistence 59,039.00

Contractual Services 1,723,786.00

Commodities 382,011.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 489,000.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 414,181.00

Total $ 6,181,101.00

FUNDING:

General Funds $ 2,704,452.00

Special Funds 3,476,649.00

Total $ 6,181,101.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 67

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

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 17

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 4. In addition to all other sums heretofore appropriated, 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 Tidelands Fund No. 3450, to the Department of Marine Resources for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Tidelands projects for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000 $ 4,700,000.00.

Tidelands Projects:

City of Moss Point - Waterfront Acquisition/Access

and Development: Pelican Landing $ 250,000.00

Clower-Thornton Nature Area, The Garden Clubs

of Mississippi - Trail Improvements in

Clower-Thornton Nature Area $ 25,000.00

City of Biloxi - McDonnell Avenue

Boat Launch $ 500,000.00

Biloxi Port Commission - Lighthouse

Fishing Docks - Phase IV $ 365,000.00

City of Gautier - Gautier Park Waterfront

Improvements $ 40,000.00

Harrison County Board of Supervisors - Popps

Ferry Causeway Waterfront Phase II $ 200,000.00

City of Bay St. Louis - Bay St. Louis Urban

Waterfront Improvements $ 700,000.00

City of Waveland - Public Marina Project

Phase III $ 270,000.00

Department of Marine Resources -

Discretionary funds $ 2,350,000.00

Each political subdivision receiving funds authorized in this section shall be held responsible for complying with Section 29-15-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be subject to an audit by the State Auditor and shall submit detailed reports on December 31 and June 30 to the Commission on Marine Resources on how funds authorized in this section were expended.

It is the intention of the Legislature that any political subdivision seeking to qualify for Tidelands Funds for the subsequent fiscal year shall submit a proposal to the Commission on Marine Resources no later than July 1, 1999.

It is the intention of the Legislature that if the amount of Tidelands Funds appropriated in this act exceed the actual amount of Tidelands Funds available, the available funds shall be allocated on a pro rata basis between projects listed in this section.

SECTION 5. 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 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.