REPORT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

 

MADAM PRESIDENT AND MR. SPEAKER:

 

   We, the undersigned conferees, have had under consideration the amendments to the following entitled BILL:

 

S. B. No. 3034:  Appropriation; Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory.

 

  We, therefore, respectfully submit the following report and recommendation:

 

  1.  That the House recede from its Amendment No. 1.

 

  2.  That the Senate and House adopt the following amendment:

 

     Amend by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

 

SECTION 1.  The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory which is comprised of special source funds and donations collected by or otherwise available to the Institute for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Institute for the period beginning July 1, 2006, and ending June 30, 2007...........................................

................................................. $  367,478.00.

     SECTION 2.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1, not more than the amounts set forth below shall be under the authority of the State Personnel Board:

    AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent:    Full Time...........        3

Part Time...........        0

Time-Limited:Full Time...........        0

Part Time...........        0

     Funds are provided herein to adjust the Variable Compensation Plan to ensure that all full-time employees receive a pay increase equal to the realignment component of the Variable Compensation Plan or Fifteen Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00), whichever is greater, with not more than one-half (1/2) to be awarded on July 1, 2006, with the remainder to be awarded on January 1, 2007.

     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 2008 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2007 funds appropriated for that purpose, unless programs or positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2008 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 2007 appropriation for "Personal Services" when annualized, with the exception of escalated funds.  If, at the time the agency takes any action to change "Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken an action which would cause the agency to exceed this projected annual cost or the Fiscal Year 2007 "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 or allowable under the terms set forth within this act.  The State Personnel Board shall not escalate positions without written approval from the Department of Finance and Administration.  The Department of Finance and Administration shall not provide written approval to escalate any funds for salaries and/or positions without proof of availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated level.

     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 3.  This appropriation is made for the purpose of providing funds to defray the expenses of the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory as established in Section 49-19-403, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     SECTION 4.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory is hereby authorized to accept, budget and expend funds, not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00), from any source in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

     SECTION 5.  It is the intention of the Legislature that whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind shall be given preference.  A similar preference shall be given to the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are made without competitive bids.

     SECTION 6.  It is legislative intent to ensure beneficial information reaches as many Mississippians as possible.  Further, it is legislative intent that the expenditure of public funds for this purpose be accomplished in an efficient and effective manner.

     Therefore, state agencies as standard procedure, will observe the following criteria:

     (1)  Develop goals and desired result for a campaign.

     (2)  Evaluate effectiveness through respected advertising standards, including market reach and cost effectiveness.

     (3)  Seek public service announcements, which would be aired by media without cost.

     (4)  Itemize and justify professional assistance and related expenses for creative and production costs outside of the actual media expenditures.

     (5)  Utilize Mississippi owned media companies when feasible.

     SECTION 7.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2, Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) shall be derived from the Budget Contingency Fund created in Section 27-103-301, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory.

     SECTION 8.  Upon passage of Senate Bill 2724, 2006 Regular Legislative Session, the funds provided in the sections of this act shall be utilized by the Forestry Commission in the format described for the fiscal year 2007.

     SECTION 9.  The money herein appropriated shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in 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 10.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.

 

CONFEREES FOR THE SENATE          CONFEREES FOR THE HOUSE

X (SIGNED)	X (SIGNED)
Jack Gordon	Johnny W. Stringer
X (SIGNED)	X (SIGNED)
Sampson Jackson II	Blaine Eaton
X (SIGNED)	(NOT SIGNED)
Gloria Williamson	Bobby Shows