Bill Text: MS SB2859 | 2015 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Appropriation; Veterans Affairs Board.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)
Status: (Passed) 2015-04-20 - Approved by Governor [SB2859 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2015-SB2859-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2015 Regular Session
To: Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Clarke, Burton, Lee, Jackson (32nd), McDaniel, Simmons (13th)
Senate Bill 2859
(As Passed the Senate)
AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD FOR 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 hereby appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the expenses and paying salaries of the Veterans Affairs Board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016 $ 6,260,639.00.
SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the special fund in the State Treasury to the credit of the Veterans Affairs Board which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the board, for the support and maintenance of said board for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015, and ending June 30, 2016...... $ 34,718,114.00.
SECTION 3. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, the following positions are authorized:
AUTHORIZED POSITIONS:
Permanent: Full Time........... 78
Part Time........... 0
Time-Limited: Full Time........... 543
Part Time........... 76
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and/or other special funds which are being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in violation of Internal Revenue Service’s Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor.
SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Sections 1 and 2, funds in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) are provided to defray the cost of providing care to indigent/low-income Mississippi veterans and the non-veteran surviving spouses of Mississippi veterans if the surviving spouse was a resident of a state veterans home at the time of the veteran's death and who, subsequent to the veteran's death, meets the indigent/low-income criteria established by the State Veterans Affairs Board, in the state veterans homes. It is the intention of the Legislature that the provision pertaining to use of indigent/low-income surviving spouses be retroactive for any such period, prior to the effective date of this act, that a current surviving spouse may have met the criteria. This section and its provisions shall be known and cited as the "Hilton R. 'Jack' Vance Act of 1997."
SECTION 5. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of Section 2, Three Hundred Thirty-one Thousand Five Hundred Two Dollars ($331,502.00) shall be derived from the Health Care Expendable Fund created in Section 43-13-407, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the support and maintenance of the Veterans' Affairs Board.
SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Veterans Affairs Board shall maintain complete accounting and personnel records related to the expenditure of all funds appropriated under the provisions of this act and that such 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 request 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.
SECTION 7. 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 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Veterans Affairs Board shall have the authority to retroactively reimburse State Veterans Home daily care charges paid by those service-connected veterans specified in Public Law 109-461 (38 CFR Part 51) on and after March 21, 2007, in Fiscal Year 2007, Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2009 to comply with federal requirements to obtain increased VA per diem for those Veterans Home residents. The Veterans Affairs Board shall have the authority to escalate and expend increased federal funds obtained by virtue of PL 109-461 (38 CFR Part 51).
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.