SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 2811

      AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS,

                       FEBRUARY 25, 1994

Brief Description:  Eliminating obsolete practices in state procurement.

SPONSORS: Representatives Caver, Anderson, Wolfe, Reams, Ballard, Pruitt, Jones, Dunshee, Quall, Karahalios and Springer; by request of Department of General Administration

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Haugen, Chairman; Drew, Vice Chairman; Loveland, McCaslin, Oke, Owen and Winsley.

Staff:  Rod McAulay (786‑7754)

Hearing Dates: February 25, 1994

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, the Office of State Procurement (OSP) within the Department of General Administration (GA) is required to conduct periodic visits to state agencies and institutions of higher education to determine compliance with statutes and supporting departmental policy.  It is also required to take corrective action.

In 1933 and 1937, the Legislature passed a series of laws requiring that the state, local governments and school districts purchase fuel "wholly mined or produced within the state" unless the costs of using such fuel is over 5 percent greater than the costs of using out-of-state fuel.  In 1938, and again in 1989, the state Supreme Court held that these statutes are unconstitutional.

In 1967, the Legislature passed a law requiring that bidders on public contracts furnish certified statements setting forth the nature and source of offshore items in excess of $2,500 that have been used in the performance of the contract.  GA is required to keep these statements for five years.

The director of GA is required to establish a "Forms Management Center" to coordinate, design, implement and maintain a statewide forms management program.  According to GA, this program has not been funded for over 10 years.

SUMMARY:

The requirement that the Office of State Procurement conduct periodic compliance visits to state agencies and higher education institutions is repealed.  OSP is required to advise these agencies regarding compliance.

The statutes requiring that the state, local governments and school districts purchase fuel produced within the state are repealed.

The statute that requires bidders on public contracts to furnish certified statements setting forth the nature and source of offshore items in excess of $2,500 used in the performance of the contract is repealed.

The provision requiring the establishment of the Forms Management Center is repealed.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 25, 1994

TESTIMONY FOR:

This bill cleans up obsolete statutes pertaining to General Administration.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  John Franklin, Director, Department of General Administration (pro); Nancy Locke, GA (pro)