MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2000 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Representatives Henderson (9th), Maples, Hamilton, Martinson, Stringer, Warren, Weathersby
House Bill 1626
(As Sent to Governor)
AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2001.
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 State Forestry Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000, and ending June 30, 2001
$ 21,738,002.00.
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 State Forestry Commission which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the commission, for the support and maintenance of the commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000, and ending June 30, 2001
$ 10,952,423.00.
Of the funds specified in this section, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) shall be deposited in a fund created in the State Treasury called the "Forest Improvement Revolving Fund." Money in this fund shall be used by the State Forestry Commission to assist in the reforestation and growth improvement of the forests, woodlands, and publicly owned lands of the state, including sixteenth section lands, Camp Shelby, Columbia Training School and colleges and universities. Landowners who contract with the commission for such work shall pay to the commission its actual cost for conducting such work. Money received for this work by the commission shall be paid into the State Treasury, and the State Treasurer shall deposit such money in the "Forest Improvement Revolving Fund."
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:
MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE:
Personal Services:
Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits $ 21,969,044.00
Travel and Subsistence 100,000.00
Contractual Services 2,505,000.00
Commodities 2,396,381.00
Capital Outlay:
Other Than Equipment 400,000.00
Equipment 1,320,000.00
Subsidies, Loans and Grants 4,000,000.00
Total $ 32,690,425.00
FUNDING:
General Funds $ 21,738,002.00
Special Funds 10,952,423.00
Total $ 32,690,425.00
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:
Permanent: Full Time 666
Part Time 74
Time-Limited: Full Time 0
Part Time 0
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. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Forestry Commission be allowed to escalate its budget in the Capital Outlay: Equipment major object of expenditure, with funds generated from the Forest Acreage Tax, and with funds generated from the sale of old equipment and lease of tower sites an amount not to exceed Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00). It is further the intention of the Legislature that the State Forestry Commission be allowed to escalate its budget in the Subsidies, Loans and Grants major object of expenditure, with funds generated from the Severance Tax to fund the Forest Resource Development Program in an amount not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00). The receipt of these funds is hereby authorized and approved, provided such receipts and expenditures are reported and otherwise accounted for in accordance with Section 27-103-101 et seq. and Section 27-104-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 5. In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below:
FY01
Performance Measures Target
Fire Control
Number of fires per year 4.847
Average size of fire (acres) 8.25
Private Lands Management
Land reforested (acres) 175,000
Landowners assisted (persons) 17,000
Public Lands Management
Value of timber sold (dollars) $20,000,000
Insect and Disease Control
Acres surveyed 17,500,000
Forest Resource Development
Acres regenerated 60,000
Federal Excess Property
Number of vehicles acquired 150
Regeneration
Genetically improved seedlings 50,000,000
A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 2002.
SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that the State Forestry Commission be allowed to escalate part-time positions up to one hundred (100) and expend funds not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) from any source of funds that become available to the commission. This escalation shall be in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds. These positions may be used to protect life and property during extended periods of extreme wildfire occurrences of a minimum of fifty (50) fires per day. The escalation of positions and the expenditure of these funds shall be at the discretion of the State Forester, with written notification to the State Personnel Board and the State Fiscal Officer.
SECTION 7. The Forestry Commission has the authority to purchase from the "General Services Administration" Fire Fighter Catalog.
SECTION 8. Of the above funds, none can be expended until there is created an additional Forestry Tech I for the South Central District whose primary purpose shall be to advise on the issues of management of sixteenth section land.
SECTION 9. 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 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.