MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Gordon, Thames, Huggins, Posey, Dearing, Hamilton, Simmons, Walls

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD FOR 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 purpose of defraying the expenses and paying salaries of the Veterans Affairs Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000, and ending

June 30, 2001 $ 3,408,918.00.

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 Veterans Affairs Board which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the board, for the support and maintenance of said board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000, and ending June 30, 2001 $ 19,895,981.00.

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 $ 2,334,431.00

Travel and Subsistence 70,000.00

Contractual Services 19,506,646.00

Commodities 1,038,822.00

Capital Outlay:

Other Than Equipment 200,000.00

Equipment 155,000.00

Subsidies, Loans and Grants 0.00

Total $ 23,304,899.00

FUNDING:

General Funds $ 3,408,918.00

Special Funds 19,895,981.00

Total $ 23,304,899.00

AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent: Full Time 77

Part Time 0

Time-Limited: Full Time 0

Part Time 0

With the funds herein appropriated, it is the intention of the Legislature that it shall be the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2002 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2001 funds appropriated for that purpose, unless programs or positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2002 budget by the Mississippi Legislature. Based on data provided by the Legislative Budget Office, the State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annual cost to fully fund all appropriated positions in compliance with the provisions of this act. It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to insure that no single personnel action increases this projected annual cost and/or the Fiscal Year 2001 appropriation for "Personal Services" when annualized. If, at the end of any calendar month, the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken action(s) which would cause the agency to exceed this projected annual cost or the Fiscal Year 2001 "Personal Services" appropriated level, when annualized, then only those actions which reduce the projected annual cost and/or the appropriation requirement will be processed by the State Personnel Board until such time as the requirements of this provision are met.

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. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1, and authorized for expenditure in Section 3, funds in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars

($250,000.00) are provided to defray the cost of providing care to indigent/low-income Mississippi veterans in the state veterans homes. This section and its provisions shall be known and cited as the "Hilton R. 'Jack' Vance Act of 1997."

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, 2000.