MS HB1373

Establishes emergency purchasing procedures for telecommunications equipment/services (through Department of Information Technology Services) and personal/professional services (through Public Procurement Review Board) when delays from competitive bidding would be detrimental to state interests or threaten health, safety, or property

Requires agencies seeking emergency purchases to file statements explaining the emergency circumstances and, if applicable, certified board minutes; contracts awarded under emergency procedures cannot exceed one year

Mandates the Department of Information Technology Services and Public Procurement Review Board to jointly produce biennial reports to the Legislature on state procurement laws, with recommendations for improvements, beginning in 2023

Requires the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to develop emergency procurement rules in conjunction with the Public Procurement Review Board and Department of Information Technology Services; these rules cannot be suspended by emergency declarations

Repeals Section 5-3-72, which required the PEER Committee to biennially review the state's purchasing laws, transferring this responsibility to the procurement agencies