Senate Bill 2769

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE UNIVERSITIES 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 such board that a group purchasing program could or would affect economy or efficiency in its operations.

(2) Purchases by public institutions of higher learning participating in group purchasing programs of supplies, commodities and equipment through such programs as provided in subsection (1) 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, 2008, to the Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Fees, Salaries and Administration Committees a report analyzing the savings and economic benefits of a group purchasing program authorized under this section.

(4) The provisions of this section shall stand repealed on July 1, 2009.

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