Senate Bill 2975

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF SPECIAL FUNDS TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY EXAMINERS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2019.

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

SECTION 1. That the following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi State Board of Veterinary Examiners for the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred by said board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2018, and ending June 30, 2019 $ 195,150.00.

SECTION 2. 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and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.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 3. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Veterinary Examiners Board 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 2018. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2020 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 2019 budget request process.

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 this agency shall have the authority to expend funds from any source that may become available to the agency in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds for the purpose of funding any increase in health insurance costs for Fiscal Year 2019, or for the purpose of funding additional fees, costs or assessments received by the agency from the Department of Information Technology Services or the Department of Finance and Administration for Fiscal Year 2019 that may be incurred by the agency as a result of legislation passed during the 2018 Regular Session of the Legislature and approved by the Governor. The agency is authorized to escalate other special funds for the limited purposes provided in this section in an amount not to exceed Seven Hundred Sixty-seven Dollars ($767.00).

SECTION 6. 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 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.