Appropriation; Counselors, Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional.

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To: Appropriations
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Hopson, DeBar, Norwood,
Hickman, Hill, McCaughn, Tate

SENATE BILL NO. 3083

AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION OF SPECIAL FUNDS FOR THE 1
PURPOSE OF DEFRAYING THE EXPENSES OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE BOARD 2
OF EXAMINERS FOR LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS FOR FISCAL YEAR 3
2027. 4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 5
SECTION 1. The following sum, or so much thereof as may be 6
necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State 7
Treasury to the credit of the Mississippi State Board of Examiners 8
for Licensed Professional Counselors, for the purpose of defraying 9
the expenses of the board for the fiscal year beginning 10
July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027......... $ 473,712.00. 11
SECTION 2. Of the funds appropriated under the provisions of 12
Section 1 of this act, the following positions are authorized: 13
AUTHORIZED HEADCOUNT: 14
Permanent: 3 15
Time-Limited: 0 16
No general funds authorized to be expended herein shall be 17
used to replace federal funds and/or other special funds which are 18
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being used for salaries authorized under the provisions of this 19
act and which are withdrawn and no longer available. 20
None of the funds herein appropriated shall be used in 21
violation of Internal Revenue Service's Publication 15-A relating 22
to the reporting of income paid to contract employees, as 23
interpreted by the Office of the State Auditor. 24
SECTION 3. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 25
Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional 26
Counselors shall maintain complete accounting and personnel 27
records related to the expenditure of all funds appropriated under 28
this act and that such records shall be in the same format and 29
level of detail as maintained for Fiscal Year 2026. It is further 30
the intention of the Legislature that the agency's budget request 31
for Fiscal Year 2028 shall be submitted to the Joint Legislative 32
Budget Committee in a format and level of detail comparable to the 33
format and level of detail provided during the Fiscal Year 2027 34
budget request process. 35
SECTION 4. Of the funds appropriated in Section 1, One 36
Hundred Forty-one Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars 37
($141,750.00) is allocated for expenses related to updating and 38
maintaining the Licensing Management System and technology 39
initiatives. 40
SECTION 5. It is the intention of the Legislature that 41
whenever two (2) or more bids are received by this agency for the 42
purchase of commodities or equipment, and whenever all things 43
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ST: Appropriation; Counselors, Board of
Examiners for Licensed Professional.
stated in such received bids are equal with respect to price, 44
quality and service, the Mississippi Industries for the Blind 45
shall be given preference. A similar preference shall be given to 46
the Mississippi Industries for the Blind whenever purchases are 47
made without competitive bids. 48
SECTION 6. It is the intention of the Legislature that the 49
funds herein appropriated shall be expended in compliance with 50
Section 27-104-25, Mississippi Code of 1972, that no state agency 51
shall incur obligations or indebtedness in excess of their 52
appropriation and that the responsible officers, either personally 53
or upon their official bonds, shall be held responsible for 54
actions contrary to this provision. 55
SECTION 7. The money herein appropriated shall be paid by 56
the State Treasurer out of any money in the State Treasury to the 57
credit of the proper fund or funds as set forth in this act, upon 58
warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer; and the State Fiscal 59
Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisitions signed by the 60
proper person, officer or officers in the manner provided by law. 61
SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from 62
and after July 1, 2026. 63