MS HB1397

Appropriates $2,222,348 from the State General Fund for the Public Utilities Staff for fiscal year 2022 (July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022)

Appropriates an additional $375,000 from the Public Utilities Application Fund for staff expenses during the same fiscal year

Authorizes 27 permanent full-time positions with no part-time or time-limited positions

Implements Project SEC2 of the Colonel Guy Groff State Variable Compensation Plan beginning January 1, 2022, limiting salary increases to no more than 3% annually (excluding executive directors, agency heads, and elected judges)

Requires the agency to maintain complete accounting and personnel records and prohibits incurring obligations in excess of the appropriation