MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2010 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Nunnelee, Davis, Turner, Hopson, Stone, Wilemon

Senate Bill 3138

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2011.

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

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 Commission on Judicial Performance of the State of Mississippi for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2011............ $       307,777.00.

SECTION 2.  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 Commission on Judicial Performance, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Commission on Judicial Performance of the State of Mississippi for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2011................................................

........................................... $      206,231.00.

SECTION 3.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, not more than the following amount shall be expended for Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits... $      426,806.00.

  FUNDING:

General Funds......................... $       307,777.00

Special Funds......................... $       206,231.00

Total............................ $       514,008.00

  AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:

Permanent:     Full Time............        5

Part Time............        0

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

Part Time............        0

     Any transfers or 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and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.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.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the Judicial Performance Commission 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 2010.  It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2012 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 2011 budget request process.

     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.  Of the funds provided within this act, no former employee who is receiving State of Mississippi retirement benefits shall be hired under contract for an amount exceeding Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) a year without prior approval by an agency's proper governing board or authority.  Upon approval of such contracts a written report shall be submitted detailing the cost and need of contract services to the Chairmen and members of the Senate and House Appropriation Committees.

     SECTION 7.  It is the intention of the Legislature that this agency shall have the authority to receive, budget and expend funds from any source that may become available to them as a result of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

     The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall have the authority to approve escalations of funds and employee positions using funds from any source available due to the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

     The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall immediately send notice of the approval of such budget escalation to the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Legislative Budget Office.  Within fifteen (15) days of such approval, the Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall ensure that the Legislative Budget Office receives detailed and accurate information about the amount and use of federal and special source funds by state agencies as a result of the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

     SECTION 8.  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:

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

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

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

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

          (e)  Utilize Mississippi-owned media companies when feasible.

     SECTION 9.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the Judicial Performance Commission is hereby authorized to escalate, budget and expend funds from any special source not to exceed Eighty-four Thousand Fifty Dollars ($84,050.00) in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

     SECTION 10.  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 11.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.