NO. 71 Page 280
NO. 71. AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF GOVERNMENT.
(H.516)
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. SHORT TITLE
(a) This bill may be referred to as the BIG BILL - Fiscal Year 2006 Appropriations Act.
Sec. 2. PURPOSE
(a) The purpose of this act is to provide appropriations for the operations of state government during fiscal year 2006. It is the express intent of the general assembly that activities of the various agencies, departments, divisions, boards, and commissions be limited to those which can be supported by funds appropriated in this act or other acts passed prior to June 30, 2005. Agency and department heads are directed to implement staffing and service levels at the beginning of fiscal year 2006 so as to meet this condition unless otherwise directed by specific language in this act or other acts of the general assembly.
Sec. 3. APPROPRIATIONS
(a) It is the intent of the general assembly that this act serve as the primary source and reference for appropriations for fiscal year 2006.
(b) The sums herein stated are appropriated for the purposes specified in the following sections of this act. When no time is expressly stated during which any of the appropriations are to continue, the appropriations are singleyear appropriations, and only for the purpose indicated, and shall be paid from funds shown as the source of funds. If in this act there is an error in either addition or subtraction, the totals shall be adjusted accordingly. Apparent errors in referring to section numbers of statutory titles within this act may be disregarded by the commissioner of finance and management.
(c) Unless codified or otherwise specified, all narrative portions of this act apply only to the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006.
(d) The balance of any appropriations remaining unexpended and unencumbered at the end of the fiscal year shall revert to the appropriate fund balance unless otherwise specified in this act or other acts of the general assembly. Refunds of expenditures and reimbursements shall be credited to the appropriate fund and to appropriation accounts in the current fiscal year.
Sec. 4. DEFINITIONS
(a) For the purposes of this act:
(1) “Encumbrances” means a portion of an appropriation reserved for the subsequent payment of existing purchase orders or contracts. The commissioner of finance and management shall make final decisions on the appropriateness of encumbrances.
(2) “Grants” means subsidies, aid, or payments to local governments, to community and quasi-public agencies for providing local services, and to persons who are not wards of the state for services or supplies, and cash or other direct assistance, including pension contributions.
(3) “Operating expenses” means property management, repair and maintenance; rental expenses; insurance, postage, travel, energy and utilities, office and other supplies; equipment, including motor vehicles, highway materials and construction, expenditures for the purchase of land, and construction of new buildings and permanent improvements; and similar items.
(4) “Personal services” means wages and salaries, fringe benefits, per diems, and contracted third-party services; and similar items.
Sec. 5. Secretary of administration - secretary’s office
Personal services 445,340
Operating expenses 51,583
Grants 400,000
Total 896,923
Source of funds
General fund 846,821
Transportation fund 50,102
Total 896,923
(a) The secretary of administration and the state archivist are directed to jointly develop a comprehensive strategy for the management of all records created by state agencies, including but not limited to the following areas:
(1) appraisal of all current records management programs required under 3 V.S.A. § 218;
(2) the use and management of electronic records;
(3) the development of records management training.
(b) The secretary of administration shall develop a preliminary plan of implementation of the comprehensive strategy in subsection (a), including proposed, phased time lines for the implementation, by January 1, 2006. The comprehensive strategy shall be based on actual retrieval histories and applicable statutory mandates.
(c) The secretary of administration and the state archivist shall report to the house and senate committees on government operations and appropriations on this initiative on or before January 15, 2006, and recommend any statutory changes that will reduce the amount of records maintained and stored by state agencies.
(d) Of the above appropriation, $400,000 is for grants to the 11 existing regional marketing programs (RMP). These funds plus additional funds appropriated in this act for regional marketing activities shall continue to be distributed by the existing formula. RMP funds shall be used on the following marketing activities (in no specific order): regional websites, consumer/trade shows, packages/itineraries, regional publications and guides, toll free phone lines and fulfillment, public relations, advertising, familiarization tours, welcome center promotion, joint projects, and administration.
Sec. 6. IN-STATE TRAVEL REDUCTION
(a) The secretary of administration is directed to reduce in-state travel budgets, thereby reducing operating expense appropriations by $300,000 in general funds throughout the executive branch of state government and in place of this funding, encourage departments and agencies to utilize Vermont interactive television for meetings. The secretary shall report to the house and senate committees on appropriations by the end of December 2006 on the use of Vermont interactive television by state agencies and departments during fiscal year 2006.
Sec. 7. Information and innovation - GOVnet
Personal services 567,046
Operating expenses 189,353
Total 756,399
Source of funds
Internal service funds 756,399
Sec. 8. Information and innovation - communications and information technology
Personal services 3,482,819
Operating expenses 563,177
Total 4,045,996
Source of funds
Internal service funds 4,045,996
(a) The commissioner of information and innovation shall, with the cooperation of the legislative director of information technology, report to the general assembly by January 15, 2006 on the potential for conversion of the current legislative e-mail service to the same system used by the executive branch. The report shall include direct savings and costs associated with such a conversion, a time line for such a conversion and how customer service, training, privacy, and security concerns would be addressed in such a conversion.
(b) The commissioner of information and innovation shall report to the general assembly by January 15, 2006 on the potential for conversion of the current telephone system to a voice-over internet protocol (VOIP) based system. The report shall include the estimated cost of such a conversion, the potential savings a VOIP system may provide, and consideration of customer service concerns from both the state employee and state citizen perspective.
Sec. 9. Finance and management - financial operations
Personal services 2,139,003
Operating expenses 1,203,059
Total 3,342,062
Source of funds
Internal service funds 3,342,062
(a) Pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 307(e), financial management fund charges not to exceed $4,295,964, plus the costs of fiscal year 2006 salary increases bargained as part of the State/VSEA agreement, are hereby approved. Of this amount, $867,229 will be used to support the HRMS system that is operated by the department of human resources.
Sec. 10. Finance and management - budget and management
Personal services 908,332
Operating expenses 128,752
Total 1,037,084
Source of funds
General fund 816,881
Transportation fund 111,313
Interdepartmental transfer 108,890
Total 1,037,084
(a) The department of finance and management shall propose to the general assembly on January 15, 2006 the necessary statutory language and process changes required to consolidate at least 20 percent of the special funds currently in the statewide accounting system.
Sec. 11. Human resources - operations
Personal services 1,606,082
Operating expenses 314,842
Total 1,920,924
Source of funds
General fund 1,281,126
Transportation fund 347,778
Interdepartmental transfer 292,020
Total 1,920,924
Sec. 12. Human resources - HR workforce planning & employment services
Personal services 841,435
Operating expenses 301,357
Total 1,142,792
Source of funds
General fund 708,084
Transportation fund 199,708
Special funds 235,000
Total 1,142,792
Sec. 13. Human resources - employee benefits & wellness
Personal services 1,448,884
Operating expenses 355,564
Total 1,804,448
Source of funds
Internal service funds 1,804,448
Sec. 14. Human resources - information technology
Personal services 515,184
Operating expenses 370,605
Total 885,789
Source of funds
Internal service funds 885,789
Sec. 15. Libraries
Personal services 1,881,114
Operating expenses 1,573,421
Grants 70,000
Total 3,524,535
Source of funds
General fund 2,328,186
Special funds 227,820
Federal funds 812,529
Interdepartmental transfer 156,000
Total 3,524,535
Sec. 16. Tax - administration/collection
Personal services 11,477,404
Operating expenses 2,684,071
Total 14,161,475
Source of funds
General fund 13,167,874
Transportation fund 213,601
Tobacco fund 58,000
Special funds 542,000
Interdepartmental transfer 180,000
Total 14,161,475
Sec. 17. Buildings and general services - administration
Personal services 1,438,892
Operating expenses 109,308
Total 1,548,200
Source of funds
Interdepartmental transfer 1,548,200
Sec. 18. Buildings and general services - engineering
Personal services 1,876,190
Operating expenses 444,472
Total 2,320,662
Source of funds
General fund 2,173,473
Transportation fund 102,189
Interdepartmental transfer 45,000
Total 2,320,662
Sec. 19. Buildings and general services - information centers
Personal services 3,294,693
Operating expenses 1,177,513
Grants 370,000
Total 4,842,206
Source of funds
General fund 42,914
Transportation fund 4,799,292
Total 4,842,206
Sec. 20. Buildings and general services - purchasing
Personal services 704,895
Operating expenses 169,370
Total 874,265
Source of funds
General fund 656,618
Transportation fund 217,647
Total 874,265
Sec. 21. Buildings and general services - public records
Personal services 863,949
Operating expenses 701,543
Total 1,565,492
Source of funds
General fund 1,071,612
Transportation fund 182,620
Special funds 311,260
Total 1,565,492
Sec. 22. Buildings and general services - postal services
Personal services 599,500
Operating expenses 142,952
Total 742,452
Source of funds
General fund 40,000
Transportation fund 30,000
Internal service funds 672,452
Total 742,452
Sec. 23. Buildings and general services - copy center
Personal services 788,629
Operating expenses 215,702
Total 1,004,331
Source of funds
Internal service funds 1,004,331
Sec. 24. Buildings and general services - supply center
Personal services 246,376
Operating expenses 132,601
Total 378,977
Source of funds
Internal service funds 378,977
Sec. 25. Buildings and general services - federal surplus property
Personal services 63,749
Operating expenses 70,299
Total 134,048
Source of funds
Enterprise funds 134,048
Sec. 26. Buildings and general services - state surplus property
Personal services 58,930
Operating expenses 65,680
Total 124,610
Source of funds
Internal service funds 124,610
Sec. 27. Buildings and general services - property management
Personal services 1,240,936
Operating expenses 2,606,448
Total 3,847,384
Source of funds
Internal service funds 3,847,384
Sec. 28. Buildings and general services - all other insurance
Personal services 59,648
Operating expenses 11,739
Total 71,387
Source of funds
Internal service funds 71,387
Sec. 29. Buildings and general services - general liability insurance
Personal services 223,314
Operating expenses 38,632
Total 261,946
Source of funds
Internal service funds 261,946
Sec. 30. Buildings and general services - workers’ compensation insurance
Personal services 958,583
Operating expenses 152,019
Total 1,110,602
Source of funds
Internal service funds 1,110,602
(a) Pursuant to 32 V.S.A. § 307(e), workers’ compensation fund charges not to exceed $8,664,387, plus the costs of fiscal year 2006 salary increases bargained as part of the State/VSEA agreement, are hereby approved.
Sec. 31. Buildings and general services - fee for space
Personal services 10,385,701
Operating expenses 9,960,599
Total 20,346,300
Source of funds
Internal service funds 20,346,300
(a) Pursuant to 29 V.S.A. § 160a(b)(3), facilities operations fund charges not to exceed $20,346,300, plus the costs of fiscal year 2006 salary increases bargained as part of the State/VSEA agreement, are hereby approved.
(b) The following 6 (six) classified positions with any incumbents shall be moved from the department of health – Vermont state hospital to the department of buildings and general services: Custodian I (position numbers 740652, 740684, 740716, 741010), Custodian III (position number 740651), and VSH Housekeeper (position number 740650).
Sec. 32. Geographic information system
Grants 393,957
Source of funds
Special funds 393,957
Sec. 33. Auditor of accounts
Personal services 1,866,196
Operating expenses 103,338
Total 1,969,534
Source of funds
General fund 468,742
Transportation fund 59,317
Special funds 54,455
Internal service funds 1,387,020
Total 1,969,534
Sec. 34. State treasurer
Personal services 2,158,253
Operating expenses 329,009
Grants 25,000
Total 2,512,262
Source of funds
General fund 837,580
Transportation fund 104,035
Special funds 1,475,133
Private purpose trust fund 95,514
Total 2,512,262
(a) Of the above general fund appropriation, $25,000 shall be transferred into the armed services scholarship fund established in 16 V.S.A. § 2541.
Sec. 34a. 32 V.S.A. § 436 is amended to read:
§ 436. INTERFUND BORROWING
Notwithstanding any provisions of law, the state treasurer, with the approval of the governor, may borrow from any funds heretofore or hereafter created by the legislature such available amounts as he or she may determine to be necessary or desirable for the purpose of defraying the expenses of government, including the payment of notes issued for such purposes. Such borrowing may be only made twice a year; first, during the period commencing 15 business days prior to the end of the state’s fiscal year and ending 15 business days after the end of the state’s fiscal year, and second, during the period commencing on December 10, or the preceding Friday if December 10 shall fall on a Saturday or Sunday, and ending on January 10 of the succeeding year. During the period commencing with the first day of the state’s succeeding fiscal year and ending on a date not more than 15 business days thereafter, No later than the last day of the period during which the funds were borrowed, the state treasurer shall transfer to any such fund from which such initial borrowing has been made an amount equal to such borrowed amount, together with interest thereon at such rate as the state treasurer in his or her sole discretion shall determine.
Sec. 34b. COMMISSION ON FUNDING THE STATE TEACHERS’
RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF VERMONT PENSION
ACCUMULATION FUND
(a) A commission is created to make recommendations for funding an adequate, sustainable, and actuarially sound retirement benefit plan for the state teachers’ retirement system of Vermont. The commission shall be comprised of the following 13 members:
(1) two members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house;