Senate Bill 2737

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO PARTICIPATE IN GROUP PURCHASING PROGRAMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning may authorize the organization and operation of, or the participation in, group purchasing programs for the purchase of supplies, commodities and equipment when it appears to the board that such a group purchasing program could or would affect economy or efficiency in their operations.

(2) Purchases by public institutions of higher learning participating in group purchasing programs of supplies, commodities and equipment through such programs shall be exempt from the provisions of Sections 31-7-9, 31-7-10, 31-7-11, 31-7-12 and 31-7-13.

(3) The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall develop and annually submit beginning on December 1, 2007, to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees a report analyzing the savings and economic benefits of a group purchasing program authorized under this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.