04/17/1993 09:17 AM Senate SSA

  SENATOR LEMAN announced  SB 129 POWERS OF  CHIEF PROCUREMENT                 
  OFFICER to be up for consideration.                                          
                                                                               
  SENATOR MILLER moved  to adopt the CS to SB 129.  There were                 
  no objections and it was so ordered.                                         
                                                                               
  MR.  WELKER  again   testified.    He  said   the  committee                 
  substitute   deletes   a   blanket  reference   saying   the                 
  responsibilities of the chief procurement officer may not be                 
  delegated, because  there are certain  responsibilities that                 
  are  appropriate to delegate.   Section 3  provides for some                 
                                                                               
                                                                               
  professional services  to fall  under the small  procurement                 
  statutes  as  do  other  types  of  purchases.    Section  5                 
  distinguishes emergency procurements  from others.  Sections                 
  7, 8, 9, and 10 were recommended by the Administration.                      
                                                                               
  SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS  explained Section  4 allows for  the                 
  delegation   of   authority   for   small  procurements   of                 
  professional services.                                                       
                                                                               
  Number 168                                                                   
                                                                               
  DUGAN PETTY,  Director, Division  of General  Services, said                 
  currently the statute prohibits a cost plus a percentage  of                 
  cost contract.  They want that to continue, but he still had                 
  three areas of concern with this bill.  First, the salary of                 
  the  Chief Procurement Officer  should be  commensurate with                 
  the  duties  of  his  position.    If  the   duties  changed                 
  significantly, the range may very well increase.                             
                                                                               
  Second,  in Section  5, the emergency  procurements section,                 
  they  propose  language   saying,  "except  when  there   is                 
  insufficient time  for the Chief Procurement Officer's prior                 
  determination."                                                              
                                                                               
  An independent examination  of material  facts should be  at                 
  the discretion of the Chief Procurement Officer was the last                 
  change MR. PETTY offered.                                                    
                                                                               
  MR. WELKER said setting the salary in statute would make the                 
  position  more independent from  political "pressures."  The                 
  purpose behind requiring an independent determination was to                 
  add  some  accountability  to  the  position  of  the  Chief                 
  Procurement Officer.                                                         
                                                                               
  SENATOR TAYLOR moved to  pass CS SB 129 from  committee with                 
  individual recommendations.  There were no objections and it                 
  was so ordered.