H 3309 General Bill, By J.T. McElveen
 A Bill to amend the Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding Sections
 11-11-140, 11-11-150, and 11-11-160, so as to require a prioritization of
 appropriations in the annual General Appropriations Act and to require any
 midyear budget cuts by the State Budget and Control Board to follow the
 priorities, to allow state agencies to carry forward eighty percent of unspent
 appropriations, and to allow state agencies to consolidate full-time
 equivalent positions (FTE's) and distribute and adjust salaries for these
 FTE's to the combined positions.

   01/28/93  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-9
   01/28/93  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-10

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTIONS 11-11-140, 11-11-150, AND 11-11-160 SO AS TO REQUIRE A PRIORITIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS IN THE ANNUAL GENERAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT AND TO REQUIRE ANY MIDYEAR BUDGET CUTS BY THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD TO FOLLOW THE PRIORITIES, TO ALLOW STATE AGENCIES TO CARRY FORWARD EIGHTY PERCENT OF UNSPENT APPROPRIATIONS, AND TO ALLOW STATE AGENCIES TO CONSOLIDATE FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS (FTE's) AND DISTRIBUTE AND ADJUST SALARIES FOR THESE FTE's TO THE COMBINED POSITIONS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Article 1, Chapter 11, Title 11 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 11-11-140. (A) After the Capital Reserve Fund has been exhausted for the purpose of offsetting midyear budget reductions, the State Budget and Control Board may reduce appropriations as provided in this section for the purpose of avoiding a year-end deficit. Every annual general appropriations act must contain a provision establishing a priority for expenditure reductions which the board must follow in ordering midyear reductions. Total appropriations must be identified and segregated in categories A, B, and C with A representing the highest and most protected category and C representing the lowest priority. Appropriations in each category, beginning with category C, must be reduced on a pro rata basis until appropriations are equal to or less than revenues. Reductions may not be ordered in a higher priority category until all appropriations in lower priority categories have been eliminated.

(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, general fund appropriations for debt service are exempt from board-ordered reductions.

Section 11-11-150. Except where otherwise provided by law for a specific state agency, state agencies may carry forward to the succeeding fiscal year eighty percent of unexpended appropriations. These carryforward funds may be used for any purposes for which other funds are appropriated for the use of the agency.

Section 11-11-160. State agencies may consolidate existing full-time equivalent positions (FTE's) authorized for the agency and redistribute the applicable salary funds in the manner the agency head determines the most efficient use of such funds, including salary increases. If a salary increase for a classified employee exceeds the salary range authorized for the classification, the position must be reclassified to reflect the higher salary."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect July 1, 1994.