MS SB2577

State agencies that fail to file an original budget request within 30 calendar days after the Legislative Budget Office deadline must have their director contract with a third party to prepare the budget request within 10 days

The third-party prepared budget request must be 3% lower than the agency's current budget from state general funds, and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee cannot recommend a higher amount

Contractors must submit the prepared budget request within 30 calendar days of contract execution; failure to do so results in the agency's current fiscal year appropriation being frozen until submission

Agencies are responsible for paying the contractor within 45 calendar days, or their appropriation will be frozen until payment is made; if the agency fails to pay, the responsible officer or employee becomes personally liable

A negligently prepared budget is considered a refusal or failure to file, triggering the same third-party preparation requirements