Senate Bill NO. 3272

By Representative(s) Committee

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 Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000 and ending June 30, 2001

$ 23,690,124.00.

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 Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2000, and ending June 30, 2001

$ 13,024,274.00.

SECTION 3. 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and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.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 Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service provide programs in the emphasis areas of Agriculture, Home Economics, 4-H, and Community Resource Development in each county.

SECTION 5. No part of the funds appropriated or authorized to be expended hereby shall be spent directly or indirectly for payment of attorneys' fees for the services of any attorney who was not employed by the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service pursuant to the express authorization of the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning prior to performance of such legal services.

SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for fiscal year 2002 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail provided during the fiscal year 2001 budget request process.

SECTION 7. It is the intent of the Legislature that if the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act are used directly or indirectly to match or otherwise secure any federal grants, research grants or donations, such special source funds not classified as current restricted funds shall be added and accounted for under Section 2 of this act. Further, it is the intention of the Legislature that all such aforementioned special source funds be included in all reports and requests for the 2001 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature.

SECTION 8. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, the following amounts shall be derived from the Education Enhancement Fund as follows:

(a) One Million Two Hundred Thirty-six Thousand Nine

Hundred Forty-three Dollars ($1,236,943.00)

shall be derived from funds deposited pursuant

to Sections 27-65-75 and 27-67-31, Mississippi

Code of 1972.

(b) One Hundred Fifty-two Thousand Sixty-seven

Dollars ($152,067.00) shall be derived from

funds deposited pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1),

Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 9. 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:

FY2001

Performance Measures Target

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Published Information (Items) 4,379

Mass Media Exposure (Items) 6,768

Group Meeting (Meetings) 5,071

Volunteers Trained (Persons) 333

Educational Contacts (Persons) 905,000

Family & Consumer Education

Published Information (Items) 2,957

Educational Contacts (Persons) 843,347

Cost per Educational Contact ($) 8.22

Enterprise & Community Research Development

Educational Contacts (Persons) 185,000

Cost per Educational Contact ($) 11.19

4-H Youth Development

Educational Contacts (Persons) 672,000

Cost per Educational Contact ($) 10.95

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 10. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) shall be allocated to the Delta Branch Research and Extension Station for a Cotton Specialist and the related supportive costs.

SECTION 11. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated in Section 1 and authorized for expenditure in Section 2, Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) shall be allocated to defray the costs of the Northeast Mississippi Swine Demonstration Unit located at the Pontotoc Branch Experiment Station.

SECTION 12. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, an Extension Beef Specialist position shall be funded.

SECTION 13. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, an Area Aquaculture Agent for East Central Mississippi shall be funded.

SECTION 14. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds authorized for expenditures in Section 2, One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) shall be allocated to defray the costs of the Extension Youth Livestock Program at Mississippi State University.

SECTION 15. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) shall be allocated to defray the costs of operating the Crosby Arboretum.

SECTION 16. Should revenues generated and deposited to the Education Enhancement Fund pursuant to Section 27-103-203(1), Mississippi Code of 1972, fall below funds appropriated herein from said source, the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall notify the Department of Finance and Administration as to which allotments shall be reduced to insure that expenditures do not exceed actual revenues.

SECTION 17. It is the intention of the Legislature that of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, the amount of Four Hundred Seventy-seven Thousand Dollars ($477,000.00) shall be allocated to defray the cost of the Grow Green Program. Funds for this program shall be allocated to fund a Turf Specialist and an Area Horticulture Specialist.

SECTION 18. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1, One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) shall be allocated to defray the costs of a Production Economist at the Delta Research and Extension Center at Stoneville, Mississippi.

SECTION 19. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service shall have the authority to receive, budget and expend funds from any source, not to exceed Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00) that may become available to the agency. Any funds received and budgeted pursuant to this section may be used to establish three (3) Poultry Specialist positions.

SECTION 20. 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 21. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.