House Bill 32

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-29-305, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT FOR FISCAL YEARS 2019, 2020 AND 2021, THE AMOUNT APPROPRIATED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO THE COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES FOR MID-LEVEL FUNDING SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN FORTY-THREE MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR; AN ACT TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES OF THE COMMUNITY AND JUNIOR COLLEGES AND STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN FISCAL YEARS 2019 AND 2020 IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO FIVE PERCENT EACH YEAR; TO DIRECT THE APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS NECESSARY TO FULLY FUND THE SALARY INCREASES EACH YEAR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-29-305, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-29-305. (1) In funding community and junior colleges, the actual amount of the annual appropriation of the community and junior colleges general support bill shall be computed as follows:

(a) Calculate the state funding per student for Grades K-12 by dividing the total revenue from state funds by the ADA. Both the funding and ADA figures shall be provided by the State Department of Education.

(b) Calculate the state funding per FTE for regional universities by dividing the state funds for E & G operations by FTE enrollment. Both funding and enrollment figures shall come from the SREB State Data Exchange.

(c) Mid-level funding for community and junior colleges shall be the average as computed from paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection multiplied by the total community and junior college FTEs. This amount shall be appropriated annually by the Legislature to the community and junior colleges. For fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021, the amount appropriated by the Legislature to the community and junior colleges for mid-level funding shall not be less than Forty-three Million Dollars ($43,000,000.00) per year.

(2) Data used in the calculation of paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subsection (1) shall be the most current available data utilizing the same fiscal year for all entities involved. Information from the SREB State Data Exchange shall be used to ensure common denominators in the calculation of FTE enrollment and to ensure consistent reporting of financial data.

SECTION 2. (1) For the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2018, and the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2019, the annual compensation of each employee of the community and junior colleges and of each employee of the state institutions of higher learning shall be increased by an amount equal to five percent (5%) of that employee's salary in effect on the day immediately preceding the first day of the fiscal year in which the increase is to take effect.

(2) If the increase in compensation provided for in this section would cause the salary of any employee of a community or junior college or state institution of higher learning to be in excess of the compensation of the president of the community or junior college or the state institution of higher learning at which that employee is employed, then the employee's compensation may be increased only to the extent that the employee's salary will be equal in amount to the compensation of the president of the community or junior college or state institution of higher learning.

SECTION 3. If any employee of a community or junior college or state institution of higher learning is unable to receive the full amount of the salary increase provided for in Section 1 of this act because to award the entire allowable increase would cause that employee's base salary to exceed the end step of an applicable job classification, the end step of that particular job classification shall be increased. The increase shall be in an amount necessary to enable all employees in that particular job classification to be eligible to receive the full salary increase to which they are entitled under this act.

SECTION 4. The Legislature shall appropriate the funds necessary for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to provide full funding each fiscal year for the increases in compensation provided for in this act.

SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.