House Bill 245

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO FULLY FUND THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE SEVEN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CENTERS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008.

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

SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, to the Department of Mental Health for the operation and maintenance of the seven (7) mental health crisis centers for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008 $16,297,547.00.

SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of the Health Care Expendable Fund created in Section 43-13-407, Mississippi Code of 1972, to the Department of Mental Health for the operation and maintenance of the seven (7) mental health crisis centers for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008...................................... $636,374.00.

SECTION 3. The following sum, or so much of it as may be necessary, is appropriated out of the Crisis Intervention Mental Health Fund created in Section 41-21-151, Mississippi Code of 1972, to the Department of Mental Health for the operation and maintenance of the seven (7) mental health crisis centers for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008...........................................

................................................. $4,360,272.00.

SECTION 4. With the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, the following positions are authorized:

Permanent: Full Time....................... 337

Part Time....................... 0

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

Part Time....................... 0

SECTION 5. The Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health shall have the authority to transfer not more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the general funds appropriated in this act to crisis centers operated by a facility to the facility operating budget in whatever line items are necessary. The executive director shall submit justification for such a transfer to the Director of the Legislative Budget Office and the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration on or before the fifteenth day of the month preceding the month in which the transfer is to be made. Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, the executive director shall not reduce funding at any crisis center below that which is required to operate that crisis center at full funding of the reasonable cost of operation at full capacity.

SECTION 6. As a condition of receipt of the money appropriated in this act, the Department of Mental Health shall name the crisis center located in Brookhaven in honor of the late Senator Billy V. Harvey.

SECTION 7. The money appropriated in this act 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 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.