Friday, January 29, 2010

What is an "agency" under Section 27-104-13? *ANSWERED*

Today's order from the MSSC says that Section 27-104-13 applies only to "agencies" and "the Mississippi Department of Transportation.  That begs the very serious question, which departments are considered "agencies?"

Here's the answer:




Section 27-103-103 reads as follows:

(1) For the purpose of Sections 27-103-101 through 27-103-139 and 27-104-1 through 27-104-27, the term “state general-fund agency” or “general-fund agency” shall mean any agency, department, institution, board or commission of the State of Mississippi which is supported in whole or in part by appropriations from the General Fund; but such term shall not include the Legislature.


(2) For the purposes of Sections 27-103-101 through 27-103-139 and 27-104-1 through 27-104-27, the term “state special-fund agency” or “special-fund agency” shall mean any agency, department, institution, board or commission of the State of Mississippi which receives no appropriation from the General Fund, but which is supported entirely from special fund sources, by appropriation, or otherwise, but such term shall not include the State Highway Department; nor shall such term include the Mississippi Industries for the Blind.
(3) For the purposes of Sections 27-103-101 through 27-103-139 and 27-104-1 through 27-104-27, the term “state agency” shall mean any general fund agency or special fund agency as defined in this section, or the State Highway Department, or the Division of State Aid Road Construction of the State Highway Department as is evident from the context wherein it is used.


(4) For the purposes of Sections 27-103-101 through 27-103-139 and 27-104-1 through 27-104-27, the term “special funds” shall mean all revenues and/or income other than appropriations from the State General Fund which are received, collected by, or available for the support of or expenditure by any state general-fund agency or special-fund agency or the State Highway Department or the Division of State Aid Road Construction of the State Highway Department, whether such funds be derived from taxes or fees collected by or for such general-fund agency or special-fund agency or the State Highway Department or the Division of State Aid Road Construction of the State Highway Department, as the case may be, or from any other types of revenue from any other source.


(5) For the purposes of Sections 27-103-101 through 27-103-139 and 27-104-1 through 27-104-27, the term “special funds” shall include revolving funds and all funds received from the United States Government by any state general-fund agency or special-fund agency, but shall not include any revolving fund established prior to July 1, 1984, for the purpose of paying or retiring any indebtedness as is authorized by statute.
So, it looks like Mississippi Industries for the Blind is safe.  Here's another question, though:  Are agencies funded by assessments on implied consent law violations free from cuts?  I think the answer is yes. 

(h/t Will Bardwell for the link)

2 comments:

Anderson said...

No idea, but if the courts are funded out of the general fund, then they sound like general fund agencies.

Of course, the zen trick here is that the MSSC will be the authority on what 27-104-13 means, at least unless the Legislature amends it to say "this means YOU, courts."

Anderson said...

Hey, no fair finding the answer!

Though I would tend to think that, applying Ye Olde Canons of Legislative Constructione, the express exclusion of the Legislature is a tip-off that, had the Legislature intended to exclude the judiciary, it would have said so.

The MSSC can also decide that, if the statute *does* apply to the judicial branch, then it's unconstitutional ...