House Bill 647

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 27-103-213, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHALL ENACT THE APPROPRIATION BILLS THAT PROVIDE THE ANNUAL FUNDING FOR CERTAIN AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS NOT LATER THAN SPECIFIC DATES DURING THE REGULAR SESSION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 27-103-213, Mississippi Code of 1972:

27-103-213. (1) Beginning with the 2006 Regular Session and each succeeding regular session, the Legislature shall enact the appropriation bills that provide the annual funding and support during the next fiscal year for the agencies and programs specified in subsection (2) of this section, and transmit the signed, enrolled versions of those bills to the Governor not later than February 23 in a ninety-day session and not later than March 26 in a one-hundred-twenty-five-day session.

(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section apply to the appropriation bills for the Adequate Education Program and other primary and secondary education programs, the Department of Education, the state institutions of higher learning, the community/junior colleges, the Department of Mental Health and the Division of Medicaid.

(3) This section does not apply to separate appropriation bills that provide additional funding during the current fiscal year for any of the agencies or programs specified in subsection (2) of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.