Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official page posted by the Mississippi Legislature, fetched 2026-08-29. This is the enrolled version. The official bill page.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2026 Regular Session To: Appropriations By: Senator(s) Hopson, DeBar, DeLano, Barnett, McLendon, Sparks, Suber Senate Bill 3089 (As Sent to Governor) AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY, AND FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING A DISASTER RELIEF RESERVE FUND AND DEFRAYING THE COSTS RELATED TO CERTAIN DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS FOR 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 hereby appropriated out of any funds in the State General Fund not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency in accordance with the provisions of Section 33-15-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027 $ 5,809,955.00. 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 Mississippi Emergency Management Agency which is comprised of special source funds collected by or otherwise available to the agency, for the support and maintenance of the agency for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.................................................. ............................................ $ 30,698,171.00. 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: $ 4,298,628.00 Special Funds: $ 14,769,453.00 Total Funds: $ 19,068,081.00 PERSONAL SERVICES: Employee Salaries, Wages and Fringe Benefits: $ 18,062,115.00 Progressions: $ 0.00 Vacancy Funding: $ 1,005,966.00 Total Personal Services: $ 19,068,081.00 AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: Permanent: 122 Time-Limited: 61 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. In addition to all other sums herein appropriated, 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, to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for the purpose of defraying certain administrative expenses and the state share of the cost of disaster assistance programs, including, but not being limited to, public assistance programs, individual and family grant programs, and mitigation programs, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027........... $ 585,056.00. SECTION 5. In addition to all other sums herein 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 Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Fund Nos. 33703, 3725, 3728, 372U, 3729, 37AH, 53730, 6820174300, and 58202 for the purpose of defraying certain administrative expenses and the state and federal share of the cost of disaster assistance programs, including, but not being limited to, public assistance programs, individual and family grant programs, and mitigation programs, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027................................. $ 370,684,867.00. SECTION 6. The funds appropriated under the provisions of Sections 4 and 5 of this act are provided to defray certain administrative expenses and the state and federal share of the cost of disaster assistance programs, including public assistance programs, individual and family grant programs, and mitigation programs resulting from, but not being limited to, the following: 1604 Hurricane Katrina 4175 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding - Cities of Louisville & Tupelo - Hazard Mitigation - Other Needs Assistance - Mississippi Temporary Housing Program - Pre-Disaster Response - Emergency Preparedness Programs 4429 Feb 22-March 29, 2019 Flooding 4450 Severe Weather April 13, 2019 4470 Severe Weather October 26, 2019 4478 Severe Weather January 10-11, 2020 4528 Coronavirus Pandemic 4536 Severe Weather April 12, 2020 Easter Tornadoes 4538 Flooding Feb 10-18, 2020 (Pearl River Flood) 4248 Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding - North Mississippi/Holly Springs 4268 Delta Flooding 4295 Pine Belt Tornado/Flooding 4314 Severe Storms, Flooding in Adams, Calhoun, Carroll, Claiborne, Holmes, Jefferson, Montgomery, Webster & Yazoo Counties 4350 Hurricane Nate 4415 Severe Storms, Flooding & Tornado in Clarke, Covington, Forrest, Greene, Jasper, Jones, Marion, Newton, Perry & Wayne Counties 4551 Severe Weather April 22-23, 2020 4576 Hurricane Zeta 4598 2021 Winter Storm 3582 Water Crisis EM Dec. 4697 Severe Weather March 24-25, 2023 4727 Severe Weather June 14, 2023 4874 Severe Weather March 14-15, 2025 SECTION 7. None of the funds appropriated in Section 4 of this act shall be used to establish a special reserve fund in the State Treasury for disaster relief except as provided for in Section 33-15-307, Mississippi Code of 1972. SECTION 8. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency may, upon the request of a local public emergency management organization in an area which has suffered a natural disaster, supply equipment to rural water associations to enable their continued operation when the local emergency management organization determines that such private entities provide services essential to the welfare of the community. SECTION 9. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency shall provide enhanced training to local governments, supervisors, mayors, civil defense groups and municipal associations in disaster management. SECTION 10. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency 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 11. 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 the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for operations. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below: FY2027 Performance Measures Target Emergency Management Number of Attendees at all Training Courses Offered 1,000 Number of Community and Local Government Workshops Conducted 60 Number of Basic Training Courses Offered 55 Number of Intermediate Training Courses Offered 55 Number of Advanced Training Courses Offered 55 Average Time from the Receipt of Message to Delivery to Appropriate Agencies 5.00 Number of Community and Local Government Plans Created and/or Updated 115 Number of Personnel Trained 3,000 Number of Likes, Shares and Audience Reach 3,000,000 Percent Increase in Participation by Partners in Awareness, Planning, Training and Exercise Activities 50.00 Number of Calls from the Public Answered 7,000 Emergency Communications Number of ECDs with Approved NG911 Plans 100 Percentage of the State that has Adopted NG911 30.00 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 2028. SECTION 12. 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 the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for disaster response and recovery. Based on the funding authorized, this agency shall make every effort to attain the targeted performance measures provided below: FY2027 Performance Measures Target Emergency Mgmt Preparedness Percent of the Affected Population Informed 100.00 Average Time to Deliver Goods & Services 48.00 Recovery Number of Ongoing Projects 15 Number of Meetings Conducted 6,000 Average Cost per Project 40,000,000.00 Percent of Recovery Objectives Complete 100.00 Mitigation Number of Workshops Conducted 30 Number of Ongoing Projects 14 Average Cost per Project 50,000.00 Percent Reduction in Damage Due to Natural and Man-Made Incidents 5.00 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 2028. SECTION 13. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency shall have authority to transfer not more than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) from any general or special fund treasury fund and major object budget category to another special or general fund treasury fund and major object budget category accordingly under the control of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of this authority is to more efficiently use available cash reserves. It is further the intention of the Legislature that the Executive Director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency shall submit written justification for the transfer to the Legislative Budget Office and the Department of Finance and Administration on or before the fifteenth of the month prior to the effective date of the transfer. SECTION 14. It is the intention of the Legislature that the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency shall submit a notification and summary of all state support funding on all disasters that require general funds or state support special funds to the Legislative Budget Office. SECTION 15. It is the intention of the Legislature that from any funds appropriated in this act, the agency shall maintain a minimum of nine (9) Area Coordinators to provide daily assistance to local jurisdictions with emergency management activities as well as to provide quicker response to incidents and/or disasters. In addition, it is the intent of the Legislature that these Area Coordinators shall reside in or within fifty (50) miles of their assigned districts. SECTION 16. 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 17. With funds appropriated herein, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is authorized to make reimbursement payments directly to individual Mississippi citizens who have been or will be approved to participate in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Safe Room Grant Program. All funds paid by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency under this program will be reimbursed to the Agency by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. SECTION 18. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this act, Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) is provided from the NG911 CMRS Grant Fund as created in Senate Bill 2835, 2025 Regular Session. These funds are provided to pay for reimbursement of eligible expenses. SECTION 19. Of the funds appropriated in Section 2 of this act, Two Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($2,750,000.00) is provided from the State NG911 Fund as created in Section 19-5-395, Mississippi Code of 1972, for the operations of the new State NG911 program at the agency. However, none of the funds provided shall be used to purchase vehicles. SECTION 20. It is the intention of the Legislature that in accordance with Section 19-5-389, Mississippi Code of 1972, the authority shall develop, establish, and publish a defined scope, technical standards, and operation requirements for a State NG911 Plan. The authority will approve all purchases made on behalf of the Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority. The Authority shall report to the House and Senate Appropriations Chairmen and the Legislative Budget Office by September 30, 2026, the minimum standards, specifications, and requirements for each ECD NG911 plan, including the proposed budgets for Fiscal Years 2027 and 2028. The authority shall act as a statewide proprietor and resource for the development, modification, and approval of ECD's NG911 implementation plan. SECTION 21. In addition to all other sums herein 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 2026 Local Governments Disaster Recovery Emergency Loan Fund, as created in Section 6 of House Bill 1646, 2026 Regular Legislative Session, for the purpose of defraying certain administrative expenses, grants, and loans, for the period beginning upon passage of this act, and ending June 30, 2027..................................... $ 125,000,000.00. SECTION 22. The expenditure of the funds appropriated by this act shall be under the direction of the Governor and shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of any money in 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 23. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026, with the exception of Section 21 of this act, which shall take effect and be in force from and after passage.
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