MS HB1501

Appropriates $22,037,453.00 from the State General Fund to the Department of Rehabilitation Services for fiscal year 2015 (July 1, 2014 - June 30, 2015).

Appropriates $194,410,407.00 from special funds and other sources available to the department, including $3,681,802.00 from the Health Care Expendable Fund for federal matching, Independent Living/State Attendant Care, and Deaf and Hard of Hearing programs.

Authorizes 988 permanent full-time positions, 8 permanent part-time positions, 171 time-limited full-time positions, and 2 time-limited part-time positions.

Provides $1,000 salary increases for full-time employees (pro-rated for part-time) earning less than $30,000 annually who have not received a raise since July 1, 2010; restricts future salary increases to 5% for employees without raises since July 1, 2010.

Authorizes transfer of up to $20,000,000.00 from the Department of Mental Health to expand community services for Olmstead compliance and allocates $600,000.00 from the Capital Expense Fund for capital projects.