MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Representatives Frierson, Snowden, Banks, Barker, Beckett, Bennett, Clarke, Cockerham, Coleman, Gipson, Shows, Watson, Sykes
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 2017.
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, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017
............................................ $ 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, 2016, and ending June 30, 2017...... $ 5,711,650.00.
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 2016. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the budget requests for Fiscal Year 2018 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 2017 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 with the funds provided herein, the district attorneys shall submit their Five-Year Strategic Plan(s) as required in Section 27-103-129(1), Mississippi Code of 1972.
SECTION 8. The amount of funds appropriated from the State General Fund in this bill are conditioned upon the availability for appropriation of the full amount of the state general funds that were projected in the general fund revenue estimate for fiscal year 2017 that was determined under the provision of Section 27-103-125.
If the amount of general funds projected to be available for appropriation for fiscal year 2017 would be reduced by the enactment into law of any revenue bills, as defined in Joint Rule 40, that have been passed by the House of Representatives by March 17, 2016, then the amount of funds appropriated from the State General Fund in this bill shall be reduced by the same percentage reduction in the amount of general funds that would be available for appropriation for fiscal year 2017, and the reduced amount shall be engrossed into this bill before it is transmitted to Senate.
The determination of whether the House has passed any such revenue bills by March 17, 2016, and the amount and percentage of the resulting reduction in the amount of general funds projected to be available for appropriation for fiscal year 2017, shall be determined by the Legislative Budget Office and certified in writing to the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee by the Director of the Legislative Budget Office.
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, 2016; and shall stand repealed from and after June 30, 2016.