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the former purchasing division has become a bureau within the new division. Other bureaus in the Materials Division include central stores, traffic, standards and specifications, and reproduction services. In Oregon, a reorganization within the Office of General Services resulted in adding to the purchasing division the functions of surplus property management and abundant foods distribution. The Illinois Procurement Division has added the functions of federal surplus property, state property control (from the Department of Finance) and office supply stores (from the Secretary of State).

In a reorganization in the Minnesota Department of Administration, the Director of Procurement is now responsible for personal property control and the motor pool.

The scope of the purchasing function in Illinois was expanded by legislation which extended the jurisdiction of the Procurement Division to procurement for all elective officials. Only the universities are now excluded from central purchasing.

The purchase of state insurance has been added to the functions of the Purchasing Division in Florida. In Ohio, the motor pool was shifted from the Department of Finance to the Highway Department. Purchasing offices continually seek to improve their procedures in order to assure quality of goods with favorable pricing and also to insure the rendering of effective services to the state user agencies. Recent examples of such efforts include the decentralization of some purchasing responsibilities in Oregon, in which direct purchasing authority has been delegated to the state agencies under specified dollar limitations in commodity groups heavily used by that agency. The central agency conducts audits to verify proper performance. Ohio is developing procedures to attract more vendors toward bidding for state contracts, including promotional brochures, reviewing the bidding process, and revising the commodities manual. Texas has brought in more income through the auctioning of state surplus property rather than using sealed bids.

The concept of environmental protection has brought about changes in purchasing practices. Some States such as Connecticut, Illinois, and Indiana are now procuring and using low-lead motor fuels, and several such as Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota are specifying uses of recycled paper. Connecticut specifies a reduced sulphur content in fuels and lowered phosphate content in cleansers.

North Carolina extensively amended its purchasing law, and one effect was to provide more flexibility in the use of competitive bidding procedures. Minnesota now does not require bids if there is no alternate supplier or if purchase is made from firms having federal General Services Administration (GSA) contracts at GSA prices. The price limit at which formal bids are required was raised from $2,000 to

$5.000.

The use of annual contracts was expanded in several States, including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming. Minnesota recognized the inflationary factor by permitting price escalation in long-term

contracts.

At least two States sought to develop more acceptability as well as soundness in standards and specifications by utilizing advisory committees. Rhode Island has subcommittees representing user agencies to refine standards and specifications and to list acceptable brands. Oregon has established an advisory committee on custodial commodities, mostly from user agencies, to develop cooperation between user groups and vendors.

Inroads continue on the practice of preference for in-state dealers. Colorado has abolished the 5 percent differential. Hawaii has sought to equalize prices for in-state and out-state bidders. Since out-state sellers are exempt from the state excise tax which in-state sellers must pay, the amount of the tax is added to the bid of out-of-state firms in order to make bids comparable. A 1970 survey, to which 40 States responded, showed that 13 still have in-state preference requirements. The use of state purchasing for the benefit of local governments continues to expand. Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island report recent developments in this direction. Local use of state purchasing is now practiced in 21 States of the 40 surveyed.

Computer assistance in purchasing is practiced in many States. In Texas, computer programs are utilized for term contracts and, in part, for open-market purchases.

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jurisdiction

authority

preparing budget

or agencies

to legislature

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Feb. 1 preceding each regular By the 5th day regular busi- Unlimited.

Yes.

Oct. 1.

Biennial (a).

session.

ness session.

Oct. 1.

3d legislative day of session..

do.

Yes.:

July 1..

Annual.

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Legislative council... Budget Division, Department of Finance and Administration. Budget Division, under Director of Finance.

State Budget Director, Executive Budget Office, Department of Administration.

Director of Budget...

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Delaware.

do.

Florida..

do.

Sept. 15; schools, Oct. 15..
Nov. 1 each year.

By 5th day of session.

..do.

Yes..

do.

Do.

30 days prior to regular ses

..do.

Yes.

do.

Do.

sion.

Georgia Hawaii.

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By 5th day of session or sooner-. 3d Wednesday in January, 20 days in advance to members of legislature.

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Idaho.

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Administrator, Division of the Aug. 15 before January ses- Not later than 5th day of sesBudget.

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See footnotes at end of table.

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