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. 3154: Appropriation; Employment Security Comm.
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 Employment Security Commission or its successor, for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred by said commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008.................... $ 224,503,432.00.
SECTION 2. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1, not more than the amounts set forth below shall be expended for the respective major objects or purposes of expenditure:
MAJOR OBJECTS OF EXPENDITURE:
Personal Services:
Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits$ 53,709,954.00
Travel and Subsistence.............. 1,759,416.00
Contractual Services..................... 69,664,392.00
Commodities.............................. 2,995,507.00
Capital Outlay:
Other Than Equipment................ 1,035,000.00
Equipment........................... 6,723,805.00
Vehicles............................ 50,348.00
Wireless Communication Devices...... 40,000.00
Subsidies, Loans and Grants.............. 88,525,010.00
Total.............................. $ 224,503,432.00
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:
Permanent: Full Time........... 811
Part Time........... 365
Time-Limited:Full Time........... 0
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 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 1, the following sum shall be derived from money in the Unemployment Trust Fund, made available to this state under Section 903(d) of the Social Security Act, as amended, to the Mississippi Employment Security Commission to be deposited in the Employment Security Administration Fund and used by the Mississippi Employment Security Commission for the following purposes:
1. Payment of various One-Stop Administration expenses that support the service delivery of employment and workforce information services. This includes, but is not limited to, the following activities:
a. Staff for delivery of reemployment services to UI
claimants, including group job search assistance and staff-assisted referrals to jobs.
b. Equipment and resources for resource rooms.
c. Payment for rent, utilities, and maintenance of
facilities, including common spaces such as resource rooms, reception areas, conference areas,
etc.
d. Payment of shared costs for operation of local One- Stop Career Centers, including payment for One-
Stop operators.
e. Purchase of computer equipment, network equipment, telecommunications equipment, application development, and other technology resources.
f. Training, technical assistance, and professional development of staff who deliver employment and workforce information services.
g. Access Improvement costs for individuals with
disabilities, including remodeling or retrofitting
One-Stop Career Centers and purchasing appropriate
software, hardware, furniture and supplies.
2. Administration of the Unemployment Compensation (UC) law and its public employment service (ES) offices. This includes, but is not limited to, the following uses:
a. ES and UI automation. This includes purchases,
modifications, or automation of computer related systems and related costs.
b. UI and ES Performance Improvement costs.
c. Fraud and Abuse Reduction costs.
d. UI Claims Filing and Payment Methods Improvement costs.
e. Under the direction of the Office of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management to acquire lands and construct buildings thereon or improve
existing buildings to be used as offices.
The funds in this section are authorized for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007, and ending June 30, 2008.................
................................................$ 53,000,000.00.
The funds authorized in this Section shall be requisitioned by the Mississippi Employment Security Commission from the Unemployment Trust Fund maintained by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States as needed for the payment of obligations incurred under this appropriation, and such monies shall be deposited in the Employment Security Administration Fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 71-5-457, Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated in this act, a total of One Million Thirty-five Thousand Dollars ($1,035,000.00) is provided for the purpose of constructing and/or lease purchasing a new headquarters facility for the Mississippi Employment Security Commission, and paying for any costs associated with the construction of facilities. The funds authorized in this section shall be under the direction of the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management.
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. 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 7. 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 OF SPECIAL FUNDS TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008.
CONFEREES FOR THE SENATE CONFEREES FOR THE HOUSE
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X (SIGNED) |
X (SIGNED) |
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Jack Gordon |
Johnny W. Stringer |
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X (SIGNED) |
X (SIGNED) |
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Tommy A. Gollott |
John Read |
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X (SIGNED) |
X (SIGNED) |
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Travis L. Little |
Robert E. Huddleston |
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