§41-19-10. Authority of agencies/departments as to administration of programs and appropriations generally; preparation, review, approval, etc., of annual plans for operation of programs; granting of salary increases, etc., by agencies/departments; transfers or changes of appropriations; quarterly reports by Department of Finance as to operations of agencies/departments.

(a) Except as limited by policy decisions of the Governor, appropriations by the Legislature and other provisions of law, the several state agencies/departments shall have full authority for administering their program assignments and appropriations and shall be responsible for their proper management.

(b) Each state agency/department shall prepare an annual plan for the operation of each of its assigned programs. The operations plan shall be prepared in the form and content and be transmitted on the date prescribed to the Department of Finance.

(c) The Department of Finance shall:

(1) Review each operations plan to determine that it is consistent with the policy decisions of the Governor and appropriations by the Legislature, that it reflects proper planning and efficient management methods and that appropriations have been made for the planned purpose and will not be exhausted before the end of the fiscal year;

(2) Approve the operations plan if satisfied that it meets the requirements under subdivision (1) of this subsection; otherwise, the Department of Finance shall require revision of the operations plan in whole or in part; and

(3) Modify or withhold the planned expenditures at any time during the appropriation period if the Department of Finance finds that such expenditures are greater than those necessary to execute the programs at the level authorized by the Governor and the Legislature or that the revenues and resources will be insufficient to meet the authorized expenditure levels.

(d) No state agency/department may increase salaries of its employees, employ additional employees or expend money or incur any obligations except in accordance with law and with a properly approved operations plan by the Director of Finance.

(e) Appropriation transfers or changes as between objects of expenditures within a program may be made only by the Director of Finance. Appropriation transfers or changes between programs within an agency/department may be made only by the Governor and shall be reported to the Legislature quarterly. No transfers shall be made between agencies/departments except pursuant to interagency agreements executed for purposes of accomplishing objectives for which the funds involved were appropriated.

(f) The Department of Finance shall report quarterly to the Governor and the Legislature on the operations of each state agency/department, relating actual accomplishments to those planned and modifying, if necessary, the operations plan of any agency/department for the balance of the fiscal year.

(Acts 1976, No. 494, p. 614, §9.)