REPORT OF CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
MR. SPEAKER AND MADAM PRESIDENT:
We, the undersigned conferees, have had under consideration the amendments to the following entitled BILL:
H. B. No. 1691: Appropriation; Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
We, therefore, respectfully submit the following report and recommendation:
1. That the Senate recede from its Amendment No. 1.
2. That the House and Senate 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 General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the support and maintenance of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008
............................................ $ 9,692,469.00.
SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in any special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the department for the support and maintenance of the department, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008.........................
............................................ $ 53,194,120.00.
The following sum, which is included in the sum appropriated above in this section, is hereby appropriated out of the state excise taxes upon gasoline, oil and other petroleum products to the Fisheries and Wildlife Fund for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008............................... $ 5,750,000.00.
The State Tax Commission is hereby directed to set aside the amount of this appropriation or any part thereof at any time it sees fit, out of any collections of taxes upon gasoline, oil and other petroleum products, and to deduct the amounts so set aside from such funds before making distribution thereof. However, provisions shall first be made for the Highway Bonds Sinking Fund, as required under the provisions of Chapter 130, Laws of 1938, and any amendments thereto, and Section 27-5-101, Mississippi Code of 1972.
Any funds available in the Wildlife Heritage Fund may be expended by the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks as authorized by law. The department shall make a detailed report to the Legislature regarding the spending of the Wildlife Heritage funds by September 1 for the preceding fiscal year.
SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2 to the Bureau of Wildlife and Fisheries, funds in the amount of One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-five Dollars ($125,335.00) shall be derived from the Education Enhancement Fund deposited pursuant to Sections 27-65-75 and 27-67-31, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of Project WILD for Fiscal Year 2008.
SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall have the authority to receive, budget and expend funds from the Gulf and Wildlife Protection Fund, not to exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for the purpose of preservation, protection, conservation, and acquisition of waters, land and wildlife of this state.
SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Sections 1 and 2, the following positions are authorized:
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:
Permanent: Full Time........... 828
Part Time........... 209
Time-Limited:Full Time........... 61
Part Time........... 0
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 2009 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2008 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 2008 appropriations for "Personal Services" when annualized, with the exception of escalated funds and educational benchmarks. 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 2008 "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. On January 1, 2008, the State Personnel Board will make adjustments to the structure side of the compliance report based on data provided by the Legislative Budget Office in order for agencies to award educational benchmarks.
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 6. Each conservation officer and supervisor shall be furnished an allowance for uniforms not to exceed Five Hundred Fifty Dollars ($550.00) per annum.
Provided further, when any personnel of the Bureau of Wildlife and Fisheries are transferred from one county to another on a permanent assignment, the expense monies now paid on out-of-county duty shall not be applicable.
SECTION 7. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure of all funds appropriated under this act and that such records shall be in the same format and level of detail as maintained for Fiscal Year 2007. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2009 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee in a format and level of detail comparable to the format and level of detail provided during the Fiscal Year 2008 budget request process.
SECTION 8. In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below:
FY2008
Performance Measures Target
Support Services
Hunting & Fishing Licenses
Sold (Licenses) 528,000
Registration of Boats (Boats) 260,000
Freshwater Fisheries Mgmt
Fish Stock for Public Water (Fish) 5,000,000
Users of DWFP Lakes (Man-days) 68,000
Game Management
DMAP Cooperators 730
DWFP Management for Hunters (Man-days) 180,000
Law Enforcement
Hunter Education (Persons) 19,000
Motor Vehicle
Vehicles Purchased (Vehicles) 25
Used Vehicle Sales (Vehicles) 50
Parks & Recreation
Overnight Accommodations (Persons) 676,000
Water Related Services (Persons) 68,000
Day Use Services (Persons) 2,650,000
Facilities Repair Projects (Projects) 30
Historical & Nature Services (Persons) 87,000
Museum Of Natural Science
Information Provided (Participants) 235,500
Participants in Museum Prjs (Persons) 435,000
A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 2009.
SECTION 9. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, the following amount shall come from the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Special Pearl River Timber Fund No. 3465, for the purpose of making improvements to the Pearl River Wildlife Management Area$ 50,000.00.
SECTION 10. The board of supervisors of any county or any group or combination of counties are hereby authorized and empowered to enter into cooperative agreements with each other and with the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for the purpose of creating, improving or restoring parks, public game and fish habitat lying or to be situated wholly or partially within such county or in an adjoining county; and each county is empowered and authorized, in its discretion, to expend a sum not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) from the general county fund for such purposes from which fund they shall reimburse to the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks the actual cost of all surveying and engineering projects incurred by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks incidental thereto. Such boards of supervisors are further authorized and empowered, in their discretion, to enter into agreements necessary to carry out the purposes of this act with any other county, the United States Forest Service or any other agency if same should be necessary for the acquisition of land by lease or otherwise for such purposes.
SECTION 11. It shall be unlawful for any officer, employee or other person whatsoever to use or permit or authorize the use of any automobile or any other motor vehicle owned by the State of Mississippi or any department, agency or institution thereof for any purpose other than upon the official business of the State of Mississippi or any agency, department or institution thereof.
It is the intent of the Legislature that motor vehicles authorized to be owned and operated by this agency shall comply with Sections 25-1-77 through 25-1-93, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 12. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall have the authority to receive, budget and expend funds from any source, not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00), that may become available to the department in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration.
SECTION 13. In order to be in compliance with Sections 63-1-74 through 63-1-79, funds are herein provided and may be expended by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to pay the costs of commercial driver's licenses for specific employees and/or to reimburse such costs for specific employees who, in the course of their duties and responsibilities, are required to hold a valid Mississippi Commercial Driver's License.
SECTION 14. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall have the authority to receive, budget and expend funds from the Mississippi Development Authority in the amount of Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000.00) as authorized in Section 57-61-32 (1), Mississippi Code of 1972. Such funds are to be used to defray the cost of constructing a North Mississippi Fish Hatchery.
SECTION 15. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is authorized to provide financial support of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) and to enter into an agreement with the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service for a biology specialist and related supportive cost.
The Department of Finance and Administration is authorized to escalate the budget of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks for this purpose.
SECTION 16. The department is authorized to spend up to twenty-five percent (25%) of revenue in the State Park Timber Endowment Fund, as needed, to operate and maintain the state parks.
SECTION 17. As funds become available to the department, an amount equal to One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000.00) may be used for completion of the North Mississippi Fish Hatchery and any repair of levies or dams as deemed necessary by the department.
SECTION 18. It is the intention of the Legislature that no more than Nine Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($950,000.00) be spent from the Motor Vehicle Fund for the purchase of motor vehicles.
SECTION 19. 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 20. With the funds appropriated herein, it is the intention of the Legislature that a reasonable number of Conservation Officers, Conservation Officer Supervisors, District Managers, Area Managers, and Lake Managers shall be employed and/or detailed to both temporary and permanent job assignments in areas other than their county of residence.
SECTION 21. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Commission of the Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall have the authority to close, transfer, lease or sell properties under the department's jurisdiction. Proceeds from such actions shall be retained by the department.
SECTION 22. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, it is the intention of the Legislature that Two Million Dollars Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,900,000.00) shall be available to defray the expenses of the Museum of Natural Science. Of the positions authorized in Section 5, it is the intention of the Legislature that the following positions are provided to the Museum of Natural Science:
Permanent: Full Time.................30
Part Time.................13
SECTION 23. The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall transfer Fourteen Thousand Dollars ($14,000.00) from the Office of Parks and Recreation, at the sole discretion of the Executive Director of the department, to the Mississippi Development Authority, Division of Tourism, for the purpose of advertising and promoting the state parks.
SECTION 24. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall have the authority to accept, budget and expend any source funds not to exceed One Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,350,000.00) for a goat and swine processing plant at Alcorn State University. Such funds are to be escalated in accordance with procedures for federal fund escalations as established in Section 27-104-21, Mississippi Code of 1972, and expended for the purposes of performing such duties as set forth by law in accordance with applicable rules and regulations of the State Fiscal Officer.
SECTION 25. In expending the funds appropriated by this act, the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks shall be subject to the following conditions:
(a) The department may lease state park lands within Hugh White State Park and John Kyle State Park and authorize the lessee to construct, maintain and operate overnight accommodation facilities and recreational facilities;
(b) Any such lease under paragraph (a) must be approved by the commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. Before approving Hugh White State Park or John Kyle State Park lands for lease and development, the commission must make an affirmative finding and enter upon its official minutes a statement that the development of that land will not be incompatible with the outdoor recreational purposes and opportunities existing at Hugh White State Park and John Kyle State Park.
(c) Facilities to be developed on leased park lands shall be open and available for use by the general public and of such a nature as to promote outdoor recreation or complement the recreational opportunities available at the park.
SECTION 26. 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 27. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.
Further, amend by striking the title in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2008.
CONFEREES FOR THE HOUSE CONFEREES FOR THE SENATE
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X (SIGNED) |
X (SIGNED) |
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Johnny W. Stringer |
Jack Gordon |
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X (SIGNED) |
X (SIGNED) |
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Billy Broomfield |
Lynn Posey |
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X (SIGNED) |
(NOT SIGNED) |
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Warner F. McBride |
Ezell Lee |
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