S-5276.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6761

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1998 Regular Session

By Senator McDonald

Read first time 03/02/98.  Referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Purchasing services by contract.

    AN ACT Relating to purchasing services by contract; amending RCW 41.06.380 and 41.06.382; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that open competition for the provision of state services will foster the development of innovative programs, while achieving significant cost savings for the taxpayers of the state.  Performance-based contracts for state service providers will allow the marketplace to establish the optimal cost and efficiency of governmental services.  For these reasons, it is the intent of the legislature to authorize state agencies to use competitive contracts to improve the delivery of services to clients of government programs, while ensuring that state financial resources are maximized.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 41.06.380 and 1979 ex.s. c 46 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit any department, as defined in RCW 41.06.020, from purchasing services by contract with individuals or business entities ((if such services were regularly purchased by valid contract by such department prior to April 23, 1979:  PROVIDED, That no such contract may be executed or renewed if it would have the effect of terminating classified employees or classified employee positions existing at the time of the execution or renewal of the contract)).

    Sec. 3.  RCW 41.06.382 and 1979 ex.s. c 46 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit any institution of higher education, as defined in RCW 28B.10.016, or related board from purchasing services by contract with individuals or business entities ((if such services were regularly purchased by valid contract at such institution prior to April 23, 1979:  PROVIDED, That no such contract may be executed or renewed if it would have the effect of terminating classified employees or classified employee positions existing at the time of the execution or renewal of the contract)).

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