HI SB1543

Requires state purchasing agencies to provide detailed justification for hiring external consultants, including demonstrating lack of in-house capacity, conducting cost-benefit analyses comparing consultant costs to hiring/training state employees, and publishing justification reports for public review

Caps the percentage of each agency's budget that can be spent on consulting services and requires legislative approval for consulting contracts exceeding a specified dollar amount (amounts left blank in current draft)

Mandates public disclosure of all external consultant contracts, including total costs broken down by service and duration, consultant/firm names, and work scope and deliverables

Requires annual reports to the legislature detailing the number of external consultants used and percentage of budget spent on consulting, due 20 days before each regular session

Directs the Compliance Audit Unit to conduct regular audits of consultant contracts for cost-effectiveness and compliance, and requires chief procurement officers to ensure inherent government functions are not delegated to contractors; effective January 1, 2491