REPORT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

H.B. No. 1613: Appropriation; Mississippi Public Service Commission.

SECTION 1. 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 Public Service Commission Regulation Fund, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Public Service Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000

$ 7,917,430.00.

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 $ 5,007,298.00

Travel and Subsistence 570,000.00

Contractual Services 1,315,606.00

Commodities 370,110.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 0.00

Equipment 646,416.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 8,000.00

Total $ 7,917,430.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time. . . . . . . . . 111

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 3. None of the funds herein appropriated by this act to the Public Service Commission shall be expended for any purpose that is not actually required or necessary for performing any of the powers or duties of the Mississippi Public Service Commission that are authorized by the Mississippi Constitution of 1890, state or federal law, or rules or regulations that implement state or federal law.

SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Public Service Commission shall have the authority to escalate and expend funds from any proceeds arising from participation in drug seizure activities not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration.

SECTION 5. Funds are provided in this act for the reallocation of PIN 0117 from Purchasing Chief to Division Director I not to exceed Eight Thousand Six Hundred dollars ($8,600.00).

SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that with the funds provided herein, overtime may be paid to PSC-Enforcement Office Regulated Carrier positions, the PSC-Enforcement Officer Chief position, PSC-Enforcement Officer District Supervisor positions, PSC-Special Projects Officer IV position, and PSC-Training Director position.

SECTION 7. With the funds provided herein, it is the intention of the Legislature to establish a new job classification of PSC-Enforcement Officer Regulated Carrier positions, as approved by the State Personnel Board.

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.