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. 3128:  Appropriation; Univ. Med. Cen. - Consol.

 

  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 General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of The University of Mississippi Medical Center for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending

June 30, 2008............................... $   218,859,912.00.

SECTION 2.  The following sum of money, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized and approved for expenditure out of the proceeds derived from patient fees, student fees or any other special source funds which are collected by or otherwise become available, for the support and maintenance of The University of Mississippi Medical Center for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008.......................................

............................................ $   636,427,375.00.

     SECTION 3.  Any escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditions, and procedures established by law.

     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and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.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 4.  With the funds appropriated and authorized for expenditure under the provisions of Section 1 and Section 2, the University of Mississippi Medical Center shall maintain the School of Medicine, the School of Dentistry, the School of Nursing, the School of Health Related Professions, the Teaching Hospital and the Medical Center Service Area.  The University of Mississippi Medical Center shall prepare and make available to the Legislature an accounting of expenditures for each of the divisions listed in this section at the beginning of the legislative session.

     SECTION 5.  Due to critical nurse shortages and staffing, it is the intention of the Legislature to enhance recognition of excellence and expand the experience factor in attracting qualified registered nurses.

     SECTION 6.  Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, and the funds authorized to be expended in Section 2, none may be used to provide medical services on behalf of any state agency, institution or political subdivision, except to the extent that such agency, institution or political subdivision reimburses the hospital for the cost of the services provided.  Upon the rendering of medical services to any such agency, institution or political subdivision, the hospital shall issue an invoice for the charges which shall be paid within ninety (90) days.  In the event that payment is not made within ninety (90) days, the hospital shall discontinue providing services to that agency, institution, or political subdivision until all outstanding charges have been paid.

     SECTION 7.  Any funds appropriated pursuant to this act and paid as a fee to or deposited in a financial institution shall be in compliance with Section 109 of the Constitution of the State of Mississippi and Section 25-4-103, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     SECTION 8.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the University of Mississippi Medical Center'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 9.  Of the funds authorized for expenditure in Section 2, Three Million Eight Hundred Fifty-four Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty Dollars ($3,854,830.00) shall be derived from the Education Enhancement Fund from funds deposited pursuant to Sections 27-65-75 and 27-67-31, Mississippi Code of 1972.

     SECTION 10.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2, Two Million Two Hundred Two Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty-eight Dollars ($2,202,868.00) shall be derived from the Health Care Expendable Fund created in Section 43-13-407, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the support and maintenance of the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

     SECTION 11.  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 12.  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 13.  Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, a salary increase in the amount of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) per full-time equivalent shall be awarded to all nursing faculty of the University Medical Center effective July 1, 2007.

     SECTION 14.  Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Two Hundred Sixty Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($260,500.00) is hereby provided for the Rural Physicians Scholarship Program as described in House Bill 1465, 2007 Regular Session.

     SECTION 15.  Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) is hereby provided for the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency.

     SECTION 16.  Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, the sum of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated for The University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute.

     SECTION 17.  Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, Six Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($650,000.00) is hereby appropriated for A Comprehensive Tobacco Center at the University Medical Center.

     SECTION 18.  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 19.  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 PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008.


 

CONFEREES FOR THE SENATE          CONFEREES FOR THE HOUSE

 

 

X (SIGNED)

X (SIGNED)

Jack Gordon

Johnny W. Stringer

 

 

X (SIGNED)

X (SIGNED)

Mike Chaney

Jack Gadd

 

 

X (SIGNED)

X (SIGNED)

Terry C. Burton

D. Stephen Holland