Bill Text: MS SB3047 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Appropriation; Veterans Affairs Board.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 4-2)

Status: (Passed) 2011-03-08 - Approved by Governor [SB3047 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2011-SB3047-Enrolled.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2011 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Davis, Carmichael, Hopson, Blount, Chassaniol, Simmons

Senate Bill 3047

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE VETERANS AFFAIRS BOARD FOR FISCAL YEAR 2012.

     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, 2011, and ending June 30, 2012 $     6,257,337.00.

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, 2011, and ending June 30, 2012...... $    29,864,515.00.

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...........      362

Part Time...........       42

     With the funds herein appropriated, it is the intention of the Legislature that it shall be the agency's responsibility to make certain that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal Services" for Fiscal Year 2013 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2012 funds appropriated for that purpose, unless programs or positions are added to the agency's Fiscal Year 2012 budget by the Mississippi Legislature.  Based on data provided by the Legislative Budget Office, the State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annual cost to fully fund all appropriated positions in compliance with the provisions of this act.  It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to ensure that no single personnel action increases this projected annual cost and/or the Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations for "Personal Services" when annualized, with the exception of escalated funds.  If, at the time the agency takes any action to change "Personal Services," the State Personnel Board determines that the agency has taken an action which would cause the agency to exceed this projected annual cost or the Fiscal Year 2012 "Personal Services" appropriated level, when annualized, then only those actions which reduce the projected annual cost and/or the appropriation requirement will be processed by the State Personnel Board until such time as the requirements of this provision are met.

     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.

     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 2011.  It is further the intention of the Legislature that the budget request for Fiscal Year 2013 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 2012 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 legislative intent to ensure beneficial information reaches as many Mississippians as possible.  Further, it is legislative intent that the expenditure of public funds for this purpose be accomplished in an efficient and effective manner:

     Therefore, state agencies as standard procedure, will observe the following criteria:

          (a)  Develop goals and desired result for a campaign.

          (b)  Evaluate effectiveness through respected advertising standards, including market reach and cost effectiveness.

          (c)  Seek public service announcements, which would be aired by media without cost.

          (d)  Itemize and justify professional assistance and related expenses for creative and production costs outside of the actual media expenditures.

          (e)  Utilize Mississippi-owned media companies when feasible.

     SECTION 9.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the Veterans Affairs Board shall have the authority to escalate and expend funds received as reimbursement of start-up costs related to the planning and development of the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

     SECTION 10.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the Veterans Affairs Board shall have the authority to escalate and expend federal funds in an amount not to exceed Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000.00) for costs associated with the construction and equipping of the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

     SECTION 11.  It is the intention of the Legislature that the agency shall compile cell phone usage records of any cellular phone (wireless communication device) that is assigned, issued or made available to any officer or employee in accordance with Section 25-53-191, Mississippi Code of 1972, and these records shall be made publicly available at the expense of the agency.

SECTION 12.  Of the funds appropriated in Sections 1 and 2, the Veteran’s Affairs Board is authorized to pay a fiscal year 2008 prior year debt to Citibank in the amount of Fifty-four Dollars Ten Cents ($54.10).

     SECTION 13.  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 14.  Of the funds provided within this act, no former employee who is receiving State of Mississippi retirement benefits shall be hired under contract for an amount exceeding Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) a year without prior approval by an agency's proper governing board or authority.  Upon approval of such contracts a written report shall be submitted detailing the cost and need of contract services to the Chairmen and members of the Senate and House Appropriation Committees.

     SECTION 15.  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 16.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.