Senate Bill 2444

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 27-104-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE ADDITIONAL TRANSFERS BETWEEN MAJOR BUDGET CATEGORIES BY STATE AGENCIES DUE TO FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES CAUSED BY HURRICANE KATRINA; TO AMEND SECTION 27-104-21, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE STATE AGENCIES TO ESCALATE AND EXPEND CERTAIN FEDERAL OR SPECIAL SOURCE FUNDS DUE TO UNFORESEEN FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 27-104-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-104-17. (1) An allotment period shall be one-half (1/2) of twelve (12) months, and expenditure one-half (1/2) of the appropriated amount, unless otherwise specified in the appropriation bill or justified by the agency to the Department of Finance and Administration, and the first allotment period shall commence on July 1. Estimates shall be filed with the Department of Finance and Administration not later than the first day of the month preceding the beginning period.

Provided further, that the Department of Finance and Administration may, in its discretion, restrict an agency to monthly allotment period when it becomes evident that an agency's rate of expenditure to date indicates this restriction will be necessary to prevent depletion of its appropriation prior to the close of the fiscal year or when the condition of the State General Fund requires monthly monitoring and control of the rate of General Fund expenditures.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3), and unless otherwise specified in the agency appropriation bill, in the event any emergency or unforeseen circumstances shall arise, the agency head may authorize increases in major objects of expenditure within each specific budget within each appropriation bill in total amounts not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the appropriated amount of each object, provided that other major objects of expenditure are decreased by a corresponding dollar amount. No transfers shall be authorized which increase or decrease the major object of expenditure "Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits," or which increase the major object of expenditure "Capital Outlay - Equipment." The agency head shall submit written justification for the transfer to the Legislative Budget Office, the Department of Finance and Administration, and the State Auditor, on or before the fifteenth of the month prior to the effective date of the transfer. The transfer shall be effective the first working day of the month following timely submissions required herein. In cases of extreme hardship, certified in writing by the agency head and submitted with timely submissions required herein, the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, in his discretion, may authorize an earlier effective date for the transfer.

(3) From and after passage and until June 30, 2007, due to the unforeseen financial circumstances caused by Hurricane Katrina, * * * agency heads * * *, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Administration, may authorize increases in major objects of expenditure within each specific budget within each appropriation bill, provided that other major objects of expenditure are decreased by a corresponding dollar amount * * *. The agency head shall submit written justification for the transfer(s) to the Department of Finance and Administration, the Legislative Budget Office and the State Auditor on or before the fifteenth of the month prior to the effective date of the transfer. The transfer shall be effective the first working day of the month following timely submissions and approval required herein. In cases of extreme hardship, certified in writing by the agency head and timely submitted as required herein, the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, in his discretion, may authorize an earlier effective date for the transfer.

SECTION 2. Section 27-104-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

27-104-21. (1) All general and special fund agencies shall, upon making application for federal funds, forward a summary of such applications to the Legislative Budget Office. The Legislative Budget Office shall have an opportunity to review such applications and make its comments thereon to the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration and the state agency making application. Unless otherwise specified in the appropriation bill, the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall have the authority to approve escalations in a budget using one hundred percent (100%) federal money.

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(2) The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall have the authority to approve escalations of funds and employee positions * * * using one hundred percent (100%) federal or other special source funds available and necessary to assist agencies with any unforeseen financial circumstances * * *. New employee positions funded one hundred percent (100%) by or from federal funds may be authorized by the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration subject to the rules and regulations of the State Personnel Board. No federal or other special source funds may be expended for programs or activities other than those which have been authorized by act of the Legislature or which are encompassed by a state agency's program structure as provided by law; provided, however, that any expenditures related to a Hurricane Katrina relief program shall be specifically authorized. The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall immediately send notice of the approval of such budget escalation to the Legislative Budget Office. The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall ensure that the Legislative Budget Office receives timely, detailed and accurate information about the amount and use of federal and special source hurricane relief funds by state agencies.

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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.