MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Appropriations

By: Representative Compretta

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 31-7-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDE THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALONG WITH THE BUREAU OF NARCOTICS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IN THE AGENCIES FOR WHICH THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE PURCHASE OF SPECIAL UNMARKED VEHICLES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 31-7-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

31-7-9. (1) The Department of Finance and Administration shall adopt purchasing regulations governing the purchase by any agency of any commodity or commodities and establishing standards and specifications for a commodity or commodities and the maximum fair prices of a commodity or commodities, subject to the approval of the Public Procurement Review Board. It shall have the power to amend, add to or eliminate purchasing regulations. The adoption of, amendment, addition to or elimination of purchasing regulations shall be based upon a determination by the Department of Finance and Administration with the approval of the Public Procurement Review Board, that such action is reasonable and practicable and advantageous to promote efficiency and economy in the purchase of commodities by the agencies of the state. Upon the adoption of any purchasing regulation, or an amendment, addition or elimination therein, copies of same shall be furnished to the State Auditor and to all agencies affected thereby. Thereafter, and except as otherwise may be provided in subsection (2) of this section, no agency of the state shall purchase any commodities covered by existing purchasing regulations unless such commodities be in conformity with the standards and specifications set forth in the purchasing regulations and unless the price thereof does not exceed the maximum fair price established by such purchasing regulations. The Department of Finance and Administration shall furnish to any county or municipality or other local public agency of the state requesting same, copies of purchasing regulations adopted by the Department of Finance and Administration and any amendments, changes or eliminations of same that may be made from time to time.

(2) The Department of Finance and Administration shall adopt, subject to the approval of the Public Procurement Review Board, purchasing regulations governing the purchase of unmarked vehicles to be used by the Bureau of Narcotics, the Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Attorney General in official investigations pursuant to Section 25-1-87. Such regulations shall ensure that purchases of such vehicles shall be at a fair price and shall take into consideration the peculiar needs of the Bureau of Narcotics, the Department of Public Safety and the Office of the Attorney General in undercover operations.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.