House Bill 1221 Summary

• Establishes the "Mississippi Stop Corruption Act" to eliminate single source contract exception from bidding requirements in Section 31-7-13, requiring all state agencies and local governing authorities to use competitive bidding for purchases.

• Requires agencies and governing authorities with existing single source contracts as of July 1, 2015, to file a report by December 31, 2015, detailing vendors, contract costs, expenditures, expiration dates, and terms with the Secretary of the Senate and House Clerk.

• Prohibits agencies and governing authorities from entering into new single source contracts after July 1, 2015, except in emergency situations where competitive bidding delay would be detrimental; existing single source contracts cannot be renewed unless made subject to competitive bid requirements.

• Amends Section 31-7-13 to clarify that single source procurement exception is removed and defines "single source contract" as any noncompetitive item from one source only, sole source contracts, contracts not subject to competitive bid requirements, or contracts where public notice has been eliminated.

• Brings forward 24 related sections of Mississippi Code (Sections 21-27-17, 25-53-3, 31-7-12, 65-1-85, 77-3-16, and others) for conforming amendments and updates related to procurement requirements and exceptions.