MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Nunnelee, Davis, Jackson (15th), Burton, Gordon, Harden
AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF SPECIAL FUNDS TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY FOR 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 Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security or its successor, for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred by said department for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2011 $ 211,055,341.00.
SECTION 2. 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... $ 33,374,721.00.
FUNDING:
General Funds......................... $ 0.00
Special Funds.......................... 211,055,341.00
Total............................ $ 211,055,341.00
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:
Permanent: Full Time............ 457
Part Time............ 263
Time-Limited: Full Time............ 0
Part Time............ 9
Unless otherwise authorized in this act, no state agency shall take any action to promote or otherwise award salary increases through reallocation, reclassification, realignment, educational benchmark, career ladder, equity salary adjustment, or any other means to increase salaries of employees or positions unless specifically exempted by the following conditions: the award of teacher salary increments; the advancement of a trainee/cadet to the next level of a bona fide career ladder; the award of an educational benchmark for the attainment of a Certified Public Accountant License or higher level professional certification based on information provided to the State Personnel Board by the Legislative Budget Office; the immediate replacement of a departing employee with an employee from within state service at a salary level of the departing employee or the Fiscal Year 2011 promotional formula, whichever is less; the emergency appointment of nurses, pharmacists or other health care and child protection professionals at a salary to be determined by the State Personnel Board; or a new hire associated with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. All positions supported by funds available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 shall be designated as time-limited positions.
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 Department of Employment Security to be deposited in the Employment Security Administration Fund and used by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security for the following purposes:
(a) 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:
(i) Staff for delivery of reemployment services to UI claimants, including group job search assistance and staff-assisted referrals to jobs.
(ii) Equipment and resources for resource rooms.
(iii) Payment for rent, utilities and maintenance of facilities, including common spaces such as resource rooms, reception areas, conference areas, etc.
(iv) Payment of shared costs for operation of local One-Stop Career Centers, including payment for One-Stop operators.
(v) Purchase of computer equipment, network equipment, telecommunications equipment, application development and other technology resources.
(vi) Training, technical assistance, and professional development of staff who deliver employment and workforce information services.
(vii) Access Improvement costs for individuals with disabilities, including remodeling or retrofitting One-Stop Career Centers and purchasing appropriate software, hardware, furniture and supplies.
(b) Administration of the Unemployment Compensation (UC) law and its public employment service (ES) offices. This includes, but is not limited to, the following uses:
(i) ES and UI automation. This includes purchases, modifications, or automation of computer-related systems and related costs.
(ii) UI and ES Performance Improvement costs.
(iii) Fraud and Abuse Reduction costs.
(iv) UI Claims Filing and Payment Methods Improvement costs.
(v) Under the direction of the Bureau 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, 2010, and ending June 30, 2011.........................................
........................................... $ 38,000,000.00.
The funds authorized in this section shall be requisitioned by the Mississippi Department of Employment Security 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. 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 5. It is the intention of the Legislature that the agency shall compile cell phone usage records of any cellular phone (wireless communication device) that is assigned, issued or made available to any officer or employee in accordance with Section 25-53-191, Mississippi Code of 1972, and these records shall be made publicly available at the expense of the agency.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2010.