2012 -- S 2714

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LC01062

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - STATE PURCHASES

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Sheehan, and E O`Neill

     Date Introduced: March 06, 2012

     Referred To: Senate Finance

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 37-2-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 37-2 entitled "State

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Purchases" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     37-2-6. Determinations. – (a) Every determination required by this chapter shall be in

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writing, and shall be based upon detailed written findings of fact by the public official making the

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determination., and shall include the date and the name of the person making the determination.

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     Every determination required by this chapter shall be a public record pursuant to chapter

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38-2, the access to public records act, at the time the determination is made.

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     (b) Determinations required by subsections 37-2-21 (a) and (b) of this chapter shall be

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posted on the division’s website in accordance with section 37-2-6.1 no later than three (3)

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business days after the determination is made.

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     (c) These determinations and written findings shall be retained in an official contract file

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in the office of the chief purchasing office officer, the using agency, or public agency

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administering the contract.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 37-2 of the General Laws entitled "State Purchases" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     37-2-6.1. Database of determinations. -- The chief purchasing officer shall maintain, on

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the division’s website, an online database of determinations required by subsections 37-2-21 (a)

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and (b) of this chapter. The online database shall be easily accessible to the public, and shall be

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organized to promote transparency and accessibility of state purchasing decisions. The chief

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purchasing officer shall create a prominent link from the division’s website to the database. The

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database shall be searchable by terms, including, but not limited to, the following:

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     (1) The specific section of this chapter requiring the determination;

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     (2) The public official who signed the written determination;

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     (3) The date the determination was signed;

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     (4) The state agency or governmental entity requesting the procurement;

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     (5) The purchase order number;

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     (6) The vendor name; and

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     (7) Value ranges for the dollar amount of the contracts awarded pursuant to this chapter.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect on June 30, 2012.

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LC01062

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC PROPERTY AND WORKS - STATE PURCHASES

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     This act would require that determinations made regarding state purchases be in detail

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and made available to the public. The act would also require that an online database of

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determinations be maintained.

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     This act would take effect on June 30, 2012.

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LC01062

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