Oklahoma Senate Bill SB73

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/21
• Refer: 2/2/21

Caption

State purchasing procedures; providing certain exemption for the Military Department of the State of Oklahoma. Effective date. Emergency.

Impact

By exempting certain agencies, including county governments and specific higher education institutions, the legislation seeks to provide these bodies with more flexibility in their procurement processes. This change is expected to simplify transactions and enable entities to respond more swiftly to their purchasing needs without the constraints of the overarching state compliance regulations.

Summary

Senate Bill 73 aims to amend the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act by modifying the list of exempt agencies from the purchasing compliance requirements. The bill includes the Military Department of the State of Oklahoma as an exempt entity, allowing it to operate independently regarding its purchasing decisions. The bill is intended to streamline purchasing procedures by defining the Military Department as an individual purchasing entity compliant with its own approved internal purchasing procedures.

Contention

Notably, the exemption of the Military Department raises certain concerns among stakeholders. Critics argue that such exemptions could lead to a lack of oversight and accountability in how public funds are utilized in purchasing. Moreover, there is apprehension regarding the potential establishment of disparate purchasing practices among different state entities, which may undermine the intended efficiency gains of the Central Purchasing Act.