MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Hall, Burton, Stogner, Jordan (18th), Kirby, Mettetal, Posey, White (5th)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE, GRAIN DIVISION AND THE MISSISSIPPI AGRIBUSINESS COUNCIL 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 purpose of defraying the expenses of the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce Support and Grain Division for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000 $ 8,777,464.00.

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized for expenditure out of any special source funds, which are collected by or otherwise become available for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000

$ 2,158,900.00.

The funds authorized for expenditure under the provisions of this section include subscription fees produced from the Market Bulletin and admission fees produced from the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum.

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 purposes of expenditure:

SUPPORT

MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE:

Personal Services:

Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits $ 6,864,618.00

Travel and Subsistence 268,980.00

Contractual Services 1,131,974.00

Commodities 388,057.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 1,220,292.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 394,947.00

Total $ 10,268,868.00

FUNDING:

General Funds $ 8,109,968.00

Special Funds 2,158,900.00

Total $ 10,268,868.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 174

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 12

Time-Limited: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 16

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

GRAIN DIVISION:

MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE:

Personal Services:

Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits $ 568,343.00

Travel and Subsistence 12,000.00

Contractual Services 35,828.00

Commodities 14,875.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 36,200.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 250.00

Total $ 667,496.00

FUNDING:

General Funds $ 667,496.00

Special Funds 0.00

Total $ 667,496.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 24

Part Time. . . . . . . . . 1

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 4. The funds appropriated and authorized to be expended under the provisions of this act shall be expended for the purpose of defraying all expenses incurred by the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce in the operation of all programs and activities (except operation of the State Lime Plants and the Division of Plant Industry, Veterinary Laboratory, Pink Bollworm-Plant Quarantine Inspection Stations and Fire Ant Program) authorized to be conducted and carried on by said department; including, but not limited to: the administration of the Feed, Fertilizer and Dairy Act; the Weights and Measure Act; the Meat Inspection Act of 1968; the Mississippi Pure Seed Law; and the following additional programs and activities: enforcement of the egg law; publication and distribution of the Mississippi Market Bulletin, agricultural statistics, market news service at Stoneville, Mississippi; operation of the grain laboratory; inspection, grading and certifying of fruits, vegetables, hay, grain, meat and meat products, milk and dairy products, pecans, seed, syrup, and port grain inspection.

SECTION 5. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce shall from time to time adjust the schedule of fees collected under the grain inspection program so that the revenue therefrom equals or exceeds the operational costs of the grain inspection program and the expenses incurred in complying with the requirements of the United States Grain Standards Act, P. L. 94-583.

SECTION 6. The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, with the assistance of the State Department of Audit and the Department of Finance and Administration, shall establish non- budgeted enterprise funds for all "for profit" activities related to the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. The funds shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and regulations prescribed by the Department of Finance and Administration.

SECTION 7. It is the intention of the Legislature that any regulations promulgated by the State Department of Agriculture and Commerce concerning the labeling of liming materials include the actual analysis of said lime. Nothing in the regulations shall prevent any manufacturer from selling his products to any consumer as long as the labeling is accurate.

SECTION 8. 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, to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the support of the Beaver Control Program for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000 $ 500,000.00.

SECTION 9. 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 Beaver Control Program, to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the support of the Beaver Control Program for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000 $ 402,216.00.

The special funds authorized in this Section for the Beaver Control Program are to be derived as follows: Two Hundred Twenty-seven Thousand Six Hundred Eight Dollars ($227,608.00) from counties; One Hundred Seventy-four Thousand Six Hundred Eight Dollars ($174,608.00) from fees charged private persons/organizations.

SECTION 10. 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 11. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.