HB139 Summary

• Amends Alabama Code Sections 16-13B-2 and 41-16-51 to explicitly include leases and lease/purchase agreements within the competitive bidding exemptions for purchases made through national or regional cooperative purchasing programs.

• Allows city and county boards of education and governmental entities to purchase, lease, or lease/purchase goods and services through cooperative programs sponsored by the National Association of Counties or other governmental cooperative purchasing programs without competitive bidding requirements.

• Requires that goods or services obtained through cooperative purchasing agreements must result from a competitive bid process approved by the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts and must be priced at or below state purchasing program rates.

• Mandates purchases through cooperative programs use participating Alabama vendors holding Alabama business licenses when such vendors exist.

• Becomes effective immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor.