The bill enacts a new provision under R.S. 38:2212.1(P) that allows municipal and parish fire departments, volunteer fire departments, and related public safety agencies to enter into agreements with qualified group purchasing organizations for the procurement of materials, equipment, and supplies. These agreements require the purchasing organization to submit a price list that remains valid for at least three months, and this price list will serve as a binding bid during the agreement's effective period. Additionally, the bill specifies that while the price list itself is not a public record, the agreement establishing the price list and its effective date will be public, and the prices will become public records upon the opening of bids or contract execution.

Furthermore, the bill defines a "qualified group purchasing organization" as one that includes two or more public departments or agencies as members and solicits bids from vendors for materials and supplies. It also allows these public safety authorities to purchase directly from a qualified group purchasing organization if the prices are lower than those on state contracts or if the items are not available on state bid lists. The bill emphasizes that purchases from entities other than qualified group purchasing organizations must follow the standard procurement processes outlined in state law.