MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Representatives Frierson, Johnson, Coleman (29th), Banks, Barker, Beckett, Coleman (65th), DeLano, Eaton, Shows
AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF PAYING SALARIES AND TRAVEL EXPENSES OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS AND ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OF THE STATE AND PAYING OFFICE EXPENSES OF DISTRICT ATTORNEYS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2016.
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 appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of paying salaries and travel expenses of district attorneys, assistant district attorneys, criminal investigators, tort claims assessments, and paying office expenses of district attorneys for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016
............................................ $ 19,771,040.00.
SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State Prosecutor Compensation Fund, referred to in Section 99-19-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the purpose of paying salaries of assistant district attorneys of the state as authorized in Section 25-31-5(1) for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016...... $ 4,725,414.00.
SECTION 3. None of the funds authorized in this section shall be used to reimburse district attorneys or their staff for taxable meals incurred within their geographical district.
SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated herein, office expenses of district attorneys as authorized by Section 25-31-8, Mississippi Code of 1972, in the amount of One Million Two Hundred Thirty-four Thousand Dollars ($1,234,000.00).
SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, office expenses and such funds for salaries shall be provided as authorized in Section 25-3-35(6), Mississippi Code of 1972, to fund the salary for one (1) full-time legal assistant in the Sixth Circuit Court District as authorized in Section 25-31-5(2)(f), Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that the district attorneys and assistant district attorneys of the state shall maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure of all funds appropriated in this act and that those records shall be in the same format and level of details as maintained for Fiscal Year 2015. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the budget requests for Fiscal Year 2017 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 2016 budget request process for each agency and institution appropriated funds within the provisions of this act.
SECTION 7. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Department of Finance and Administration, on behalf of district attorneys and staff, shall have the authority to accept, budget and expend any source funds, not to exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) for termination leave payments. Such funds are to be escalated in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with escalation of federal funds.
SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that with the funds appropriated by this act, the agency head may award up to a five percent (5%) salary increase or an amount equal to the Fiscal Year 2016 realignment component of the Variable Compensation Plan, whichever is less, to any employee of the agency whose salary has not increased since July 1, 2011. It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to ensure that these awarded salary increases, when annualized, will not result in the need to increase agency funding above the Fiscal Year 2016 appropriated level.
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, 2015.