Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1583-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 401, Pt. J, §1, is further amended to read:

§1583-A. Creation of positions

Notwithstanding any other provision of law except sections 1676 and 1676-A, limited period, project or any other temporary positions may be established by financial order so long as the end date for such positions does not exceed the statutory adjournment date for the next regular session of the Legislature, and such positions and position actions are not intended to be ongoing or to provide ongoing services. Temporary positions established by financial order may not be continued past the statutory adjournment date unless the Legislature specifically appropriates or allocates funds to continue those positions.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §1676, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 24, Pt. EE, §1, is amended to read:

§1676. Transfer from salary plan

Notwithstanding section 1585, available balances in the General Fund Salary Plan program in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services that are no long longer required for the purposes for which they were appropriated may be made available by financial order upon the recommendation of the State Budget Officer and approval of the Governor to be used to meet the fixed obligation of the General Fund for the unfunded actuarial liability in each fiscal year. Any other available balances in the General Fund Salary Plan may only be used or made available in accordance with legislative authorization.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §1676-A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 25, Pt. M, §1, is amended to read:

§1676-A. Transfer from Highway Fund Salary Plan

Notwithstanding section 1585, available balances in the Highway Fund Salary Plan program in the Department of Administrative and Financial Services that are no longer required for the purposes for which they were allocated may be made available by financial order upon the recommendation of the State Budget Officer and approval of the Governor to be used to meet the fixed obligation of the Highway Fund for the unfunded actuarial liability in each fiscal year. Any other available balances in the Highway Fund Salary Plan may only be used or made available in accordance with legislative authorization.