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Mississippi Legislature· HB 1896Approved by Governor (Chapter 57)

Appropriation; Marine Resources, Department of., the official text

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2026 Regular Session

To: Appropriations B; Appropriations A

By: Representatives Bounds, Read, Anderson (122nd), Clark,
Eure, Hale, Jackson (11th), Pigott, Rosebud

House Bill 1896

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR THE SUPPORT AND
MAINTENANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2027.

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 appropriated out of any money in the State General Fund
not otherwise appropriated, for the support and maintenance of the Department
of Marine Resources for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June
30, 2027...........................................

............................................ $
3,710,653.00.

SECTION 2.  The following sum, or so much thereof
as may be necessary, is appropriated out of any money in any special fund in
the State Treasury to the credit of the Department of Marine Resources for the
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027 $
316,532,445.00.

Of the funds
appropriated in this section, Three Million Fifty Thousand Dollars
($3,050,000.00) is derived from the state excise taxes upon gasoline, oil and
other petroleum products.

SECTION
3.  Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of this act, not more
than the following amount of funds, with the exception of the provisions in
this section, shall be expended only for "Personal Services," which
includes "Vacancy Funding," for the following authorized number of
employment headcount:

FUNDING:

General Funds:              $
3,710,653.00

Special Funds:              $
11,160,420.00

Total Funds:                $
14,871,073.00

PERSONAL SERVICES:

Employee Salaries,
Wages and

Fringe Benefits:           $
14,048,493.00

Progressions:               $
0.00

Vacancy Funding:            $
822,580.00

Total Personal
Services:     $  14,871,073.00

AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT:

Permanent:                   108

Time-Limited:
65

As used in this section, the
term "Personal Services" shall mean funds provided under the major
object of expenditure category Personal Services for Salaries, Wages, and
Fringe Benefits.  Funds in this category shall not be transferred to any other
category.

It is the intention of the
Legislature to ensure compliance with the Variable Compensation Plan, as
outlined in Section 25-9-147, Mississippi Code of 1972.  Payment from these
funds shall be in accordance with the Variable Compensation Plan promulgated by
the Mississippi State Personnel Board.  It is the Legislature's intention that
no employee's salary falls below the minimum salary established by the
Mississippi State Personnel Board.

The State Personnel Board
shall determine and publish the projected annual cost of "Personal
Services" based on monthly and year-to-date payroll expenditures in
compliance with the provisions of this act.

With the funds herein
appropriated, it shall be the agency's responsibility to ensure that no single
personnel action or combination of personnel actions, when annualized, exceeds
the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriation for "Personal Services" with the
exception of escalated funds.  Further, it shall be the agency's responsibility
to ensure that funds required to be appropriated for "Personal
Services" for Fiscal Year 2028 do not exceed Fiscal Year 2027 funds
appropriated for that purpose unless programs or positions are added to the
agency's Fiscal Year 2027 budget by the Mississippi Legislature.

If, at the time the agency
takes any action to change "Personal Services," the State Personnel
Board determines that the agency has taken or will take an action that would
cause the agency to exceed the funds appropriated in this act when annualized
for Fiscal Year 2027 or increase the need for "Personal Services" for
Fiscal Year 2028, when annualized, the State Personnel Board shall process no
salary actions until such time as the requirements of the provisions of this
section are met with the exception of new hires determined to be essential for
the agency.

When used in this section,
"Vacancy Funding" shall mean funds included in the Total Personal Services
amount listed above and designated for approved vacancies in Fiscal Year 2027.
These funds are to be utilized to increase the number of filled headcounts that
were authorized but unfilled as of the last day of Fiscal Year 2026.  If the
agency fills additional headcounts after March 1, 2026, until the end of Fiscal
Year 2026, the amount of available Vacancy Funding may be proportionally
adjusted to reflect the updated number of filled headcounts.  The agency shall
be responsible for ensuring that "Vacancy Funding" is used to
increase headcounts and not for promotions, title changes, in-range salary
adjustments, or any other mechanism for increasing salaries for current
employees.

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 or increase the Personal
Services total 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 headcounts without
proof of availability of new or additional funds above the appropriated level.
Unless specifically noted, all Fiscal Year 2026 escalated headcounts have been
accounted for and shall be converted to authorized time-limited headcounts.

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 Service's
Publication 15-A relating to the reporting of income paid to contract
employees, as interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor.

If the agency's total
authorized headcount decreases from Fiscal Year 2026 to Fiscal Year 2027, it
will be the agency's discretion as to what headcounts are removed.

SECTION 4.  It is the intention of the Legislature
that the Department of Marine Resources 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 2026.  It is further the intention of the
Legislature that the agency's budget request for Fiscal Year 2028 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
2027 budget request process.

SECTION 5.
Each Marine Conservation Officer and Supervisor shall be furnished an allowance
for uniforms not to exceed Six Hundred Dollars ($600.00) per annum.

SECTION 6.  In addition to all other sums
heretofore appropriated, 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 Tidelands Fund No. 3345200000 to the Department of Marine
Resources for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the tidelands projects
for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.... $
18,360,000.00.

This amount is allocated as
follows:

PROJECT NO.    PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECTS
AMOUNT

Harrison County:

FY27-P600-10   East and West
Harbor Breakwater

Improvements

-City Of Pass Christian............... $ 340,000.00

FY27-P613-11   Long Beach Harbor
Northwestern

Bulkhead Phase I

-City Of Long Beach.................. $ 500,000.00

FY27-P603-05   Courthouse Road
Boat Launch and

Jetties Improvement

-City Of Gulfport.................... $ 500,000.00

FY26-P601-01   Kuhn Street Boat
Launch Ramp

Area Expansion

-City Of Biloxi...................... $ 500,000.00

FY26-P601-11   Oak Street South
Pier and Docking

Facility
Construction

-City Of Biloxi...................... $ 400,000.00

FY26-P811-01   Working Waterfront
and Commercial

Seafood Harbor Phase II

-City of D'Iberville................. $ 500,000.00

Jackson County:

FY27-P501-12   Moss Point South
Shorelines

Enhancement

-City of Moss Point.................. $ 350,000.00

FY27-P602-15   Webb's Landing
Boat Launch Parking

Expansion

-Jackson Cnty Brd of Supervisors...... $ 450,000.00

FY27-P604-05   Public Safety
Improvements to River

Park Piers Phase II

-City of Pascagoula.................. $ 400,000.00

FY27-P618-04   Shepard State Park
Upgrades

-City Of Gautier..................... $ 250,000.00

FY27-P618-02   Mary Walker/Bayou
George Martin

City Park Upgrades

-City Of Gautier..................... $ 250,000.00

FY27-M999-12   Sioux Bayou
Landing Erosion Control

-Sioux Bayou Landing RV Resort LLC.... $ 375,000.00

FY27-P648-15   Entrance, Access
and Parking

Improvements At the Gulf Coast

Research Lab

-University of Southern Mississippi... $ 245,000.00

Hancock County:

FY27-P610-14   Bayou Caddy Marina
Improvements

-Hancock Cnty Brd of Supervisors...... $ 450,000.00

FY27-P401-12   Municipal Harbor
Beach Amenities

and Improvement

-City Of Bay St. Louis................ $ 300,000.00

FY27-P646-01   Coleman Avenue
Waterfront

Improvements

-City Of Waveland.................... $ 300,000.00

FY27-P610-11   Mcleod Park
Bulkhead Improvements

On the Jourdan River

-Hancock Cnty Brd of Supervisors...... $ 450,000.00

Total Public Access Projects...................... $
6,560,000.00

Total Management Projects......................... $
3,800,000.00

Bond Repayment.................................... $
2,000,000.00

Prior Year Projects............................... $
6,000,000.00

Total Tidelands Funds............................. $18,360,000.00

Each political subdivision receiving funds authorized in
this section shall be held responsible for complying with Section 29-15-9,
Mississippi Code of 1972, and shall be subject to an audit by the State Auditor
and shall submit detailed reports beginning June 30, and every six (6) months
thereafter for the duration of the project to the Department of Marine
Resources on how funds authorized in this section were expended.

It is the intention of the Legislature that any political
subdivision seeking to qualify for tidelands funds for the subsequent fiscal
year shall submit a proposal to the Department of Marine Resources no later
than July 1, 2026.  All proposals submitted will be reviewed and evaluated by
the Department of Marine Resources in accordance to department plans and procedures.
Multi-phased projects, multi-year projects, proposed projects with high dollar
value and projects that have a record of stacking funds shall be considered as
low priority projects when evaluated.

It is the intention of the Legislature that if the amount
of the Tidelands funds appropriated in this act exceed the actual amount of
tidelands funds available, the available funds shall be allocated on a pro rata
basis between projects listed in this section.

SECTION 7.  It is the intention of the Legislature
that the department shall place any special trust funds appropriated to the
department in a special trust fund and the interest earned on the principal
shall be credited to the special trust fund.  Monies in the fund at the end of
the fiscal year shall be retained in the special trust fund for use in the next
succeeding fiscal year.  The department may use the interest earned on the fund
to pay reasonable costs for administering the fund and related projects.

SECTION 8.  It is the
intention of the Legislature that the Department of Marine Resources has the
authorization to move tidelands funds between approved projects upon request
from entity and proper completion of Form TTF-6 documentation.

SECTION 9.  It is the
intention of the Legislature for the Department of Marine Resources and the
Department of Environmental Quality to continue with any agency partnerships,
including grant agreements, that provide environmental projects to restore
Mississippi's natural resources in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

SECTION 10.  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 11.  Of the
funds appropriated in Section 2, One Hundred Fifty-two Million Seven Hundred
One Thousand Four Hundred Sixty-eight Dollars ($152,701,468.00) is provided for
the funding of the following prior year Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act
(GOMESA) projects for FY 2027:

(1)  Awards from the 2026 Regular Session:

(a)  To assist the City of Bay St. Louis with City-Wide
Sewer Rehabilitation.................................... $ 4,000,000.00

(b)  To assist the City of Waveland with Center City
Infrastructure Improvements–Phase II............... $ 3,950,000.00

(c)  To assist the Hancock County Port and Harbor
Commission with Dock C Bulkhead Replacement.................. $ 4,000,000.00

(d)  To assist the City of Diamondhead  Drainage, Flood
Prevention and Water Quality...................... $ 2,000,000.00

(e)  To assist the City of Biloxi with Lighthouse
Boardwalk Construction...................................... $ 2,000,000.00

(f)  To assist the City of Gulfport with City-Wide Sewer
Interceptor Assessment............................ $ 2,500,000.00

(g)  To assist the City of Long Beach with Northwest
Bulkhead Improvements...................................... $ 2,500,000.00

(h)  To assist the City of Pass Christian with Harbor
Bulkhead Wall Replacement.................................. $ 5,400,000.00

(i)  To assist the City of Biloxi with Hiller Part Nutrient
Reduction and Stormwater Control.................. $ 1,300,000.00

(j)  To assist the Jackson County Board of Supervisors
with Estuary Habitat Restoration-Containment Berm....... $ 2,000,000.00

(k)  To assist the City of Ocean Springs with Utility
Relocation (Sewer) Hwy 90 Widening................. $ 5,000,000.00

(l)  To assist the City of Gautier with Utility
Relocation (Sewer) Hwy 90 Widening........................... $ 1,000,000.00

(m)  To assist the Jackson County Board of Supervisors
with Signet Bulkhead Repair and........................ $ 4,000,000.00

(n)  To assist the City of Moss Point with North
Shoreline Enhancements...................................... $ 1,800,000.00

(o)  To assist the Southern Mississippi Planning and
Development District with the Coastal Waterways Inventory........

................................................. $
2,000,000.00

(p)  To assist Mississippi State University with
Evaluation and Monitoring of Marine Mammal Health................. $
1,721,529.00

(q)  To assist the University of Southern Mississippi
with Design and Fabrication of USM Teaching and Research Vessel.......

................................................. $
5,000,000.00

(r)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
Mississippi Oyster Restoration and Enhancement..... $ 1,000,000.00

(s)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
Artificial Reef Construction in the Mississippi Sound............

................................................. $
1,200,000.00

(t)  To assist the Mississippi Department of Marine
Resources with Spat on Cultch Oyster Reef Restoration.....................

................................................. $
2,000,000.00

(u)  To assist the City of Gautier with the Singing River
Property Storm Water Infrastructure................ $2,941,675.00

(v)  To assist the City of Gulfport with Jones Park
Sanitary Lift Station Renovation........................... $ 2,000,000.00

(2)  Awards from the 2025 First Extraordinary Session:

(a)  To assist the City of Long Beach with West Jetty
Hardening Small Craft Harbor................................ $ 2,453,900.00

(b)  To assist the Jackson County Utility Authority with
Escatawpa Septic System Abatement................. $ 2,646,100.00

(c)  To assist Pearl River Community College hydrographic
technician curriculum for Benthic Mapping/Monitoring.............

................................................. $
2,300,000.00

(d)  To assist the Kiln Utility and Fire District with
Sewer improvements from Hwy 43 to Cuevas Town Road....................

................................................. $
2,600,000.00

(3)  Awards from the 2024 Regular Session:

(a)  To assist the City of Waveland with Center City
Infrastructure Improvements – Sewer................ $ 2,554,600.00

(b)  To assist the City of D'Iberville with Working
Waterfront Marina Expansion Project Phase II................. $ 2,500,000.00

(c)  To assist the City of Ocean Springs with Washington
Avenue and Front Beach Utility Improvement................ $ 1,015,031.00

(d)  To assist the City of Gautier with Marin Bluff and
Hickory Hills Sewer Improvements.......................... $ 2,701,150.00

(e)  To assist the City of Moss Point with Riverfront Coastal
River Protection.................................. $ 3,750,000.00

(f)  To assist the City of Moss Point with Storm Water
Park $   118,500.00

(g)  To assist the Jackson County Utility Authority with
Poticaw Road Sewer Extension...................... $ 1,200,000.00

(h)  To assist Mississippi State University with Fixed
Lab Equipment......................................... $   849,832.00

(i)  To assist the Diamondhead Water and Sewer District
Sewer Improvements Phase III............................ $   859,493.00

(j)  To assist the Hancock County Water and Sewer
District with Asbestos Water Pipe Replacement and Port Bienville Water
Improvements $    852,719.00

(k)  To assist the Kiln Utility and Fire District with
Hwy 603 Sewer Expansion from Hwy 43 To Cuevas Town Road.................

................................................. $
2,190,565.00

(l)  To assist The Nature Conservancy with Using Brood
Stock Reefs to Enhance Oyster Production on Commercial Leases..........

................................................. $
1,000,000.00

(m)  To assist the City of Ocean Springs with Front Beach
Bulkhead......................................... $ 1,600,000.00

(n)  To assist the City of Long Beach with the Small
Craft Harbor Eastern Bulkhead Improvements............... $   882,278.00

(o)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
Oyster Spat............................................. $ 2,000,000.00

(p)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
Oyster Cultch........................................... $ 1,000,000.00

(q)  To assist the City of Pass Christian with

Highway 90 Hurricane Mitigation
Improvements....... $ 2,810,000.00

(r)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
artificial reef construction...................... $   764,299.00

(s)  To assist the City of Pass Christian with Sanitary
Sewer Pump Station Repairs.............................. $ 2,112,760.00

(t)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with MS
Reef Fish Monitoring and Assessment.................... $   250,000.00

(u)  To assist the City of Biloxi with White Avenue Storm
Water Outfall Improvements.............................. $ 1,277,500.00

(v)  To assist the National Oceans and Applications
Research Center with Mitigation of Hurricane Impacts on Municipal Harbors $
2,194,509.00

(w)  To assist the University of Southern Mississippi
with the Marine Aquaculture Demonstration Center............ $ 3,079,941.00

(x)  To assist the City of Gulfport with Wastewater
Treatment Plant Upgrades.................................... $ 1,725,000.00

(y)  To assist the Southern Mississippi Planning and
Development District with Mississippi Coastal Map Revisions......

................................................. $
796,368.00

(z)  To assist the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
with the Dolphin and Sea Turtle Hospital and Rehabilitation Center $
932,407.00

(4)  Awards from the 2023 Regular Session:

(a)  To assist the City of Pascagoula with the Live Oak
Corridor Drainage to Remedy Flooding............... $ 1,818,500.00

(b)  To assist the Hancock County Utility Authority with
the Stennis Space Center Wastewater Conveyance Project...............

................................................. $
3,687,986.00

(c)  To assist the City of Pass Christian with the West
Breakwater Wall Hurricane Mitigation Improvements.. $ 1,992,527.00

(d)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
Oyster Spat............................................. $ 1,443,500.00

(e)  To assist the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
with Monitoring and Evaluation of Sea Turtle Nesting in Mississippi.. $
490,577.00

(f)  To assist the University of Southern Mississippi
with the Mississippi Coastal Fishery Resource Assessment.................

................................................. $
2,754.00

(g)  To assist the Hancock County Port and Harbor
Commission with Sewer Construction and Improvements to Site 1 at Port Bienville
Industrial Park................................... $   299,738.00

(h)  To assist the University of Southern Mississippi
with Oak Island Oyster Company in the Development and Testing of an Off Bottom
Oyster Structure.................................. $   269,968.00

(i)  To assist Jackson County with Coastal Roadway
Hurricane Protection........................................ $   750,000.00

(j)  To assist the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
with Monitoring/Gauging Habitat Suitability for Dolphins and Turtles. $
873,089.00

(k)  To assist the Kiln Utility District with Jourdan
River Shores Sewer Improvements Phase II................. $ 2,019,002.00

(l)  To assist Harrison County with Sand Beach Outfall
Coordination...................................... $ 1,540,793.00

(m)  To assist the City of Ocean Springs with Sewer
Rehabilitation.................................... $ 1,960,000.00

(n)  To assist the City of Pass Christian with Highway 90
Hurricane Mitigation Improvements................. $   110,048.00

(o)  To assist Coastal Mississippi with the promotion of
the Seafood Industry and its Economic Contributions to the state

................................................. $
289,139.00

(p)  To assist the City of Diamondhead with Drainage,
Flood Prevention and Water Quality Improvements Phase II...............

................................................. $
595,263.00

(q)  To assist Jackson County with East Beach
Outfalls/Shoreline Protection..................... $ 1,710,000.00

(r)  To assist the City of Gautier with Hickory
Hills/Lagrange Water Quality and Stormwater Improvements.......................

................................................. $
869,078.00

(s)  To assist the City of Biloxi with Keegan Bayou
Restoration................................................. $ 2,413,681.00

(t)  To assist the City of Long Beach with Small Craft
Harbor Southern Quay Bulkhead Improvements................ $ 2,554,000.00

(u)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
Bonnet Carre Spillway Mitigation......................... $   293,320.00

(v)  To assist the City of D'Iberville with the Working
Waterfront and Seafood Harbor Project.............. $   500,000.00

(5)  Awards from the 2022 Regular Session:

(a)  To assist the American Shrimp Processors Association
with the Shrimp Processors Feasibility Study.........................

................................................. $
550,190.00

(b)  To assist the Jackson County Utility Authority with
Septic System Abatements................................. $   420,815.00

(c)  To assist the University of Southern Mississippi
with the Mississippi Coastal Fishery Resource Assessment.................

................................................. $
650.00

(d)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
the Katrina Key Expansion............................. $   183,425.00

(e)  To assist the Secretary of State with the Broadwater
Marina Restoration................................ $ 3,124,240.00

(f)  To assist the City of Pass Christian with Sewer Pump
Station Repairs................................... $   177,870.00

(g)  To assist the City of Diamondhead with Drainage,
Flood Prevention and Water Quality Improvements.......... $   677,664.00

(h)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
the Bonnet Carre and Mid Breton Response............... $   284,993.00

(i)  To assist the City of Ocean Springs with the Front
Beach Pub Access and Storm Water Mitigation Improvements...............

................................................. $
1,361,040.00

(j)  To assist the City of Pass Christian with Phase II
of the Gravity Sewer System Improvements................. $ 1,920,349.00

(k)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
the Off Bottom Oyster Aquaculture......................... $ 1,020,117.00

(l)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
the Pelican Key Beneficial Use Site................... $   348,220.00

(m)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
Phase II of the Katrina Key Expansion...................... $    53,003.00

(n)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
GOMESA project management, development and mitigation..................

................................................. $
746,097.00

(o)  To assist Mississippi Gulf Fishing Banks Inc. with
Artificial Reef Construction...................... $    67,000.00

(6)  Awards from the 2021 Regular Session:

(a)  To assist the City of Pass Christian with Sanitary
Sewer Pump Station Repairs.............................. $   901,375.00

(b)  To assist the City of Biloxi with the Point Cadet
Living Shoreline......................................... $   158,976.00

(c)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with MS
Reef Fish Monitoring and Assessment.................... $     9,119.00

(d)  To assist Hancock County Utility Authority with Oak
Harbor Sewer Improvements................................ $ 2,270,600.00

(e)  To assist Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission
with Port Bienville Conservation Management............. $   226,135.00

(f)  To assist the City of Pass Christian with Gravity
Sewer System Improvements Phase I....................... $   150,175.00

(g)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
GOMESA project management, development and mitigation..................

................................................. $
361,219.00

(7)  Awards from the 2020 Regular Session and prior:

(a)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
water testing for Seafood Consumption Safety............. $    45,262.00

(b)  To assist the Department of Marine Resources with
artificial reef construction...................... $    10,065.00

(c)  To assist the Department of Environmental Quality
with water quality..................................... $   819,750.00

SECTION 12.  It is
the intent of the Legislature that the Department of Marine Resources shall
have the authority to expend funds in an amount not to exceed Five Million
Dollars ($5,000,000.00) from funds for the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act
(GOMESA) that may become available to the agency in fiscal year 2027 in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and
Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

SECTION 13.  It is
the intention of the Legislature that none of the funds provided herein shall
be used to pay certain utilities for state furnished housing for any
employees.  Such utilities shall include electricity, natural gas, butane,
propane, cable and phone services.  Where actual cost cannot be determined, the
agency shall be required to provide meters to be in compliance with legislative
intent.  Such state furnished housing shall include single-family and multi-family
residences but shall not include any dormitory residences.  Allowances for such
utilities shall be prohibited.

SECTION 14.  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 15.  With the
funds appropriated herein, the Department of Marine Resources is authorized to
make payments for expenses incurred during prior fiscal years for an amount not
to exceed One Hundred Seventy-seven Thousand Six Hundred Seventy-nine Dollars
and Sixty-two Cents ($177,679.62).

SECTION 16.  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 17.  This act
shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026.
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