HB 1628 — Appropriation; Forestry Commission.

1628 (As Sent to Governor) AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE STATE FORESTRY COMMISSION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2024.

...............................................$ 15,460,487.00.15,732,212.00.

...............................................$ 11,776,802.00.13,600,367.00.

1628 *HR13/A451**HR43/A451SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ A1/2 23/HR13/A45123/HR43/A451SG PAGE 1 Of the funds specified in this section, Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000.00) shall be deposited in a fund created in the State Treasury called the "Forest Improvement Revolving Fund." Money in this fund shall be used by the State Forestry Commission to assist in the reforestation and growth improvement of the forests, woodlands, and publicly owned lands of the state, including sixteenth section lands, Camp Shelby, Columbia Training School and colleges and universities.

The Legislature shall determine the agency’s personal services appropriation, which shallthe beState publishedPersonnel byBoard the H.

1628 *HR13/A451**HR43/A451SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/HR13/A45123/HR43/A451SG PAGE 2 Stateshall Personnelpublish. Board.

The agency’s personal services appropriation may consist of restricted funds for approved vacancies for Fiscal Year 2024 that may not be utilized for active Fiscal Year 2023 Headcount.

It shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that the funds provided for vacancies are used to increase headcount and not for promotions, title changes, in-range salary adjustments or any other mechanism for increasing salaries for current employees.

It is the Legislature’s intention that no employee salary falls below the minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel Board.

If the agency’s Fiscal Year 2024 projected cost exceeds the annualized costs, no salary actions shall be processed by the State Personnel Board withexcept thefor exception of new hires that are determined to be essential for the agency.

Any transfers or escalations shall be made in accordance with the terms, conditionsconditions, and procedures established by law or allowable under the terms set forth within this act.

The Department of Finance and Administration shall not provide written approvalH. 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 H.

1628 *HR13/A451**HR43/A451SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/HR13/A45123/HR43/A451SG PAGE 3 approval to theescalate reportingany offunds incomefor paidsalaries toand/or contractpositions employees,without asproof interpretedof byavailability theof Officenew ofor additional funds above the Stateappropriated Auditor.level.

FundsNo havegeneral beenfunds appropriatedauthorized to be expended herein forshall thebe purposeused ofto fundingreplace Projectfederal SEC2funds minimumand/or salariesother forspecial allfunds employeesused coveredfor salaries authorized under the Colonelprovisions Guyof Groff/Nevillethis Kenningact Variableand Compensationwhich Plan.are withdrawn and no longer available.

ItNone of the funds herein appropriated shall be theused agency’sin responsibilityviolation toof ensurethe thatInternal theRevenue fundsService’s arePublication used15-A relating to increasethe allreporting employees’of salariesincome uppaid to thecontract minimumemployees, level as determinedinterpreted by the StateOffice Personnelof Board.the State Auditor.

In compliance with the "Mississippi Performance Budget and Strategic Planning Act of 1994," it is the intent of the Legislature that the funds provided herein shall be utilized in the most efficient and effective manner possible to achieve the intendedH. mission of this agency.

B.

No.

1628 *HR43/A451SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/HR43/A451SG PAGE 4 intended mission of this agency.

FY2024 Performance Measures Target Forest Protection & Information Average Suppression Time (Hrs from Detection to Control) 1 Number of Acres Burned Under a Prescribed Burn Program 17,750 Percent of Fires Suppressed at 100 Acres or Less 95.00 Forest Management Forest Resource Development Program Acres Regenerated or Improved 35,000 Acres Monitored for Insect, Storm or Disease 19,800,000 Re-Inventory 20% of State's Forest Lands (% of Regions) 20.00 Percent Increase of Re-Inventory of State Forest Land 20.00 A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 2025.

1628 *HR13/A451**HR43/A451SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/HR13/A45123/HR43/A451SG PAGE 45 FY2024SECTION Performance6. Measures Target Forest Protection & Information Average Suppression Time (Hrs from Detection to Control) 1 Number of Acres Burned Under a Prescribed Burn Program 17,750 Percent of Fires Suppressed at 100 Acres or Less 95.00 Forest Management Forest Resource Development Program Acres Regenerated or Improved 35,000 Acres Monitored for Insect, Storm or Disease 19,800,000 Re-Inventory 20% of State's Forest Lands (% of Regions) 20.00 Percent Increase of Re-Inventory of State Forest Land 20.00 A reporting of the degree to which the performance targets set above have been or are being achieved shall be provided in the agency's budget request submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee for Fiscal Year 2025.

SECTIONThere 6.is created in the State Treasury a fund designated as the Volunteer Fire Department Equipment Conversion Revolving Fund to be used by the State Forestry Commission to assist in the conversion of vehicles acquired by the State Forestry Commission through the Federal Excess Personal Property Program or by volunteer fire departments through other means to adapt them for use in the suppression of wildland fires.

There is created in the State Treasury a fund designated as the Volunteer Fire Department Equipment Conversion Revolving Fund to be used by the State Forestry Commission to assist in the conversion of vehicles acquired by the State H.

B.

No.

1628 *HR13/A451* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/HR13/A451 PAGE 5 Forestry Commission through the Federal Excess Personal Property Program or by volunteer fire departments through other means to adapt them for use in the suppression of wildland fires.

Funds in excess of FiftyH. Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) shall be placed in the State Forestry Commission's regular appropriated special funds.

Monies in this revolving fund are to be considered special funds and shall be carried forward from one fiscal year to the next.

H.

1628 *HR13/A451**HR43/A451SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/HR13/A45123/HR43/A451SG PAGE 6 SECTIONFifty 7.Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) shall be placed in the State Forestry Commission's regular appropriated special funds.

Monies in this revolving fund are to be considered special funds and shall be carried forward from one fiscal year to the next.

SECTION 7.

SECTIONH. 8.

Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, it is the intention of the Legislature that Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) shall be transferred to the Department of H.

1628 *HR13/A451**HR43/A451SG* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 23/HR13/A45123/HR43/A451SG PAGE 7 AgricultureSECTION and8. Commerce for the Beaver Control or Eradication Program during the Fiscal Year 2024.

Of the funds appropriated in Section 2, it is the intention of the Legislature that Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) shall be transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the Beaver Control or Eradication Program during the Fiscal Year 2024.

Any person who was an employee of the Forestry Commission who was laid off during Fiscal Year 2006 shall be given first priority in any new employment by the commission.

SECTION 12.