View Amendment Current Amendment: 1 to Bill 3137 The Ways and Means Committee proposes the following Amendment No. 1 to H. 3137 (COUNCIL\DG\3137C003.NBD.DG19):

Reference is to the bill as introduced.

Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 6-27-20 through Section 6-27-30(B) and inserting:

/            Section 6-27-20.      There is created the Local Government Fund administered by the State Treasurer. This fund is part of the general fund of the State. It is the intent of the General Assembly that this fund not be subject to mid-year cuts. However, if mid-year cuts are mandated by the State Budget and Control Board to avoid a year-end deficit, this fund is not subject to such cuts, except by a majority vote of the entire State Budget and Control Board which is separate and apart from any other reduction. These cuts are permitted only to the extent that counties and municipalities do not receive less funding than received in the immediate preceding fiscal year. The Local Government Fund must be financed as provided in this chapter.

     Section 6-27-30.      (A)      In the annual general appropriations act, an amount equal to not less than four and one-half percent of general fund revenues of the latest completed fiscal year must be appropriated the General Assembly must appropriate funds to the Local Government Fund.
     (B)(1)      In any fiscal year in which general fund revenues are projected to increase, the appropriation to the Local Government Fund for the upcoming fiscal year must be increased by the same projected percentage increase, but not to exceed five percent, when compared to the appropriation in the current fiscal year. For purposes of this subsection, beginning with the initial forecast required pursuant to Section 11-9-880, the percentage increase in general fund revenues must be determined by the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office by comparing the current fiscal year's recurring general fund expenditure base with the Board of Economic Advisors' most recent projection of recurring general fund revenue for the upcoming fiscal year. Upon the issuance of the initial forecast, the Executive Director of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office, or his designee, shall notify the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Governor of the projected percentage increase. The executive director, or his designee, shall provide similar notice if subsequent modifications to the forecast change the projected percentage increase. However, the forecast in effect on May thirty-first of the current fiscal year is the final forecast for which the percentage increase is determined, and no subsequent forecast modifications shall have any effect on that determination.
           (2)      The Governor shall include the appropriation increase to the Local Government Fund in the Executive Budget.
           (3)      The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office shall determine the current fiscal year's recurring general fund expenditure base, and determine any projected increase in general fund revenues. If an increase is projected, the appropriation for the upcoming fiscal year must be adjusted accordingly.            /

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, page 3, by striking Section 6-27-40(A) and inserting:

/            Section 6-27-40.      (A)      Not later than thirty days after the end of the calendar quarter, the State Treasurer shall distribute the monies appropriated to the Local Government Fund as follows:
           (1)      Eighty-three and two hundred seventy-eight thousandths percent must be distributed to counties. Of the total distributed to counties, each county must receive an amount based on the ratio that the county's population is of the whole population of this State according to the most recent United States Census.
           (2)      Sixteen and seven hundred twenty-two thousandths percent must be distributed to municipalities. Of the total distributed to municipalities, each municipality must receive an amount based on the ratio that the municipality's population is of the population of all municipalities in this State according to the most recent United States Census.      /

Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.