House Bill 1534

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING SALARIES AND TRAVEL EXPENSES OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OF THE STATE AND PAYING OFFICE EXPENSES OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2004.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, are hereby appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of paying salaries and travel expenses of district attorneys and assistant district attorneys of the state and paying office expenses of district attorneys for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003, and ending June 30, 2004............................... $ 12,985,065.00.

SECTION 2. 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 purposes:

(a) Salaries and travel expenses of district attorneys, assistant district attorneys and criminal investigators of the state:

Salaries............................... $11,792,486.00

Travel Expenses......................... 377,505.00

Tort Claims Assessment................. $ 47,074.00

None of the funds authorized in this section shall be used to reimburse district attorneys or their staff for taxable meals incurred within their geographical district.

(b) Office expenses of district attorneys as authorized by Section 25-31-8, Mississippi Code of 1972....................................

................................................ $ 768,000.00.

SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Eighty-two Thousand Two Hundred Sixty-eight Dollars ($82,268.00) is provided to fund salary and office expense for one (1) full-time legal assistant in the Sixth Circuit Court District as authorized in Section 25-31-5(2)(f), Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that none of the funds appropriated by this act shall be expended for increased charges for State and School Employees' Health Insurance Plan premium rates assessed by the Department of Finance and Administration in excess of the Fiscal Year 2003 premium rates for the health insurance plan.

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, 2003.