Mississippi 2025 Regular Session

Mississippi Senate Bill SB3044 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Appropriations By: Senator(s) Hopson, Polk, Michel, Turner-Ford, Wiggins Senate Bill 3044 ~~(As Passed the Senate)~~ AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 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 incurred by the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026 $ 6,039,432.00. SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Second Injury Fund (Fund Number 3352300000) for the purpose of making payments under the provisions of Section 71-3-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026........................................... ............................................ $ 25,000.00. SECTION 3. With the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, the following positions are authorized: AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: Permanent: 54 Time-Limited: 0 With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agencys responsibility to make certain that funds required for Personal Services for Fiscal Year 2027 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2026 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agencys Fiscal Year 2026 budget by the Mississippi Legislature. The Legislature shall determine the agencys personal services appropriation, which the State Personnel Board shall publish. The agencys personal services appropriation may consist of restricted funds for approved vacancies for Fiscal Year 2026 that may be utilized to fill vacant Fiscal Year 2025 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 Legislatures intention that no employee salary falls below the minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. Additionally, the State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annualized payroll costs based on current employees. It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to ensure that actual personnel expenditures for Fiscal Year 2026 do not exceed the data provided by the Legislative Budget Office. If the agencys Fiscal Year 2026 projected cost exceeds the annualized costs, no salary actions shall be processed by the State Personnel Board except for new hires determined to be essential for the agency. 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 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 the Internal Revenue Services Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission 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 2025. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 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 2026 budget request process. SECTION 5. It is the intention of the Legislature that with the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission shall enter into a contract with the industrial private sector for the purpose of implementing a safety education and training program. SECTION 6. 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 intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below: FY2026 Performance Measures Target Adjudication Number of Cases Resolved at the Administrative or Commission Level within 3 Months 900 Number of Cases Resolved at the Administrative or Commission Level within 6 Months 950 Number of Cases Resolved at the Administrative or Commission Level within 9 Months 900 Number of Cases Resolved at the Administrative or Commission Level within 1 Year 900 Self-insurance Percent of Individual Self-Insurers Reviewed in the Past Fiscal Year 34.00 Percent of Individual Self-Insurer Reviews Conducted in the Past Fiscal Year Showing That Reserves are Insufficient to Cover Claims 5.00 Percent of Self-Insurance Groups Reviewed 100.00 Percent of Self-Insurance Group Reviews Conducted Showing That Reserves are Insufficient to Cover Claims 0.00 Medical Cost Containment Fee Schedule Adjustments (Cost in Millions) 35.00 Medical Cost Savings to Payers (as a % of Total Billings) 46.00 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 2027. 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 salary of the Workers' Compensation Commission members shall be equal and the salary of the commission chairman shall exceed these salaries as approved by the State Personnel Board. SECTION 9. It is the intention of the Legislature that the funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for actions contrary to this provision. SECTION 10. 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 11. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025, and shall stand repealed from and after June 30, 2025.
	1	+	MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Appropriations By: Senator(s) Hopson, Polk, Michel, Turner-Ford, Wiggins Senate Bill 3044 AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 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 incurred by the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026 $ 6,039,432.00. SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Second Injury Fund (Fund Number 3352300000) for the purpose of making payments under the provisions of Section 71-3-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026........................................... ............................................ $ 25,000.00. SECTION 3. With the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, the following positions are authorized: AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: Permanent: 54 Time-Limited: 0 With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agencys responsibility to make certain that funds required for Personal Services for Fiscal Year 2027 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2026 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agencys Fiscal Year 2026 budget by the Mississippi Legislature. The Legislature shall determine the agencys personal services appropriation, which the State Personnel Board shall publish. The agencys personal services appropriation may consist of restricted funds for approved vacancies for Fiscal Year 2026 that may be utilized to fill vacant Fiscal Year 2025 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 Legislatures intention that no employee salary falls below the minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel Board. Additionally, the State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annualized payroll costs based on current employees. It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to ensure that actual personnel expenditures for Fiscal Year 2026 do not exceed the data provided by the Legislative Budget Office. If the agencys Fiscal Year 2026 projected cost exceeds the annualized costs, no salary actions shall be processed by the State Personnel Board except for new hires determined to be essential for the agency. 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 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 the Internal Revenue Services Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission 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 2025. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 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 2026 budget request process. SECTION 5. It is the intention of the Legislature that with the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission shall enter into a contract with the industrial private sector for the purpose of implementing a safety education and training program. SECTION 6. 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 intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below: FY2026 Performance Measures Target Adjudication Number of Cases Resolved at the Administrative or Commission Level within 3 Months 900 Number of Cases Resolved at the Administrative or Commission Level within 6 Months 950 Number of Cases Resolved at the Administrative or Commission Level within 9 Months 900 Number of Cases Resolved at the Administrative or Commission Level within 1 Year 900 Self-insurance Percent of Individual Self-Insurers Reviewed in the Past Fiscal Year 34.00 Percent of Individual Self-Insurer Reviews Conducted in the Past Fiscal Year Showing That Reserves are Insufficient to Cover Claims 5.00 Percent of Self-Insurance Groups Reviewed 100.00 Percent of Self-Insurance Group Reviews Conducted Showing That Reserves are Insufficient to Cover Claims 0.00 Medical Cost Containment Fee Schedule Adjustments (Cost in Millions) 35.00 Medical Cost Savings to Payers (as a % of Total Billings) 46.00 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 2027. 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 salary of the Workers' Compensation Commission members shall be equal and the salary of the commission chairman shall exceed these salaries as approved by the State Personnel Board. SECTION 9. It is the intention of the Legislature that the funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for actions contrary to this provision. SECTION 10. 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 11. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025, and shall stand repealed from and after June 30, 2025.
2	2
3	3		MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
4	4
5	5		2025 Regular Session
6	6
7	7		To: Appropriations
8	8
9	9		By: Senator(s) Hopson, Polk, Michel, Turner-Ford, Wiggins
10	10
11	11		# Senate Bill 3044
12		-
13		-	## (As Passed the Senate)
14	12
15	13		AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI WORKERS' COMPENSATION COMMISSION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026.
16	14
17	15		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
18	16
19	17		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 incurred by the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026 $ 6,039,432.00.
20	18
21	19		SECTION 2. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury to the credit of the Second Injury Fund (Fund Number 3352300000) for the purpose of making payments under the provisions of Section 71-3-73, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026...........................................
22	20
23	21		............................................ $ 25,000.00.
24	22
25	23		SECTION 3. With the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, the following positions are authorized:
26	24
27	25		AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT:
28	26
29	27		Permanent: 54
30	28
31	29		Time-Limited: 0
32	30
33	31		With the funds herein appropriated, it shall be the agencys responsibility to make certain that funds required for Personal Services for Fiscal Year 2027 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2026 funds appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the agencys Fiscal Year 2026 budget by the Mississippi Legislature. The Legislature shall determine the agencys personal services appropriation, which the State Personnel Board shall publish. The agencys personal services appropriation may consist of restricted funds for approved vacancies for Fiscal Year 2026 that may be utilized to fill vacant Fiscal Year 2025 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 Legislatures intention that no employee salary falls below the minimum salary established by the Mississippi State Personnel Board.
34	32
35	33		Additionally, the State Personnel Board shall determine and publish the projected annualized payroll costs based on current employees. It shall be the responsibility of the agency head to ensure that actual personnel expenditures for Fiscal Year 2026 do not exceed the data provided by the Legislative Budget Office. If the agencys Fiscal Year 2026 projected cost exceeds the annualized costs, no salary actions shall be processed by the State Personnel Board except for new hires determined to be essential for the agency.
36	34
37	35		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.
38	36
39	37		No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this act and which are withdrawn and no longer available.
40	38
41	39		None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in violation of the Internal Revenue Services Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor.
42	40
43	41		SECTION 4. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission 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 2025. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2027 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 2026 budget request process.
44	42
45	43		SECTION 5. It is the intention of the Legislature that with the funds appropriated in Section 1 of this act, the Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission shall enter into a contract with the industrial private sector for the purpose of implementing a safety education and training program.
46	44
47	45		SECTION 6. 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 intended mission of this agency. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below:
48	46
49	47		FY2026
50	48
51	49		Performance Measures Target
52	50
53	51		Adjudication
54	52
55	53		Number of Cases Resolved at the
56	54
57	55		Administrative or Commission Level
58	56
59	57		within 3 Months 900
60	58
61	59		Number of Cases Resolved at the
62	60
63	61		Administrative or Commission Level
64	62
65	63		within 6 Months 950
66	64
67	65		Number of Cases Resolved at the
68	66
69	67		Administrative or Commission Level
70	68
71	69		within 9 Months 900
72	70
73	71		Number of Cases Resolved at the
74	72
75	73		Administrative or Commission Level
76	74
77	75		within 1 Year 900
78	76
79	77		Self-insurance
80	78
81	79		Percent of Individual Self-Insurers
82	80
83	81		Reviewed in the Past Fiscal Year 34.00
84	82
85	83		Percent of Individual Self-Insurer
86	84
87	85		Reviews Conducted in the Past Fiscal
88	86
89	87		Year Showing That Reserves are
90	88
91	89		Insufficient to Cover Claims 5.00
92	90
93	91		Percent of Self-Insurance Groups Reviewed 100.00
94	92
95	93		Percent of Self-Insurance Group Reviews
96	94
97	95		Conducted Showing That Reserves are
98	96
99	97		Insufficient to Cover Claims 0.00
100	98
101	99		Medical Cost Containment
102	100
103	101		Fee Schedule Adjustments (Cost in Millions) 35.00
104	102
105	103		Medical Cost Savings to Payers (as a %
106	104
107	105		of Total Billings) 46.00
108	106
109	107		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 2027.
110	108
111	109		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.
112	110
113	111		SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that the salary of the Workers' Compensation Commission members shall be equal and the salary of the commission chairman shall exceed these salaries as approved by the State Personnel Board.
114	112
115	113		SECTION 9. It is the intention of the Legislature that the funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for actions contrary to this provision.
116	114
117	115		SECTION 10. 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.
118	116
119	117		SECTION 11. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025, and shall stand repealed from and after June 30, 2025.