This bill amends existing law to expand the types of contracts that educational research and service corporations can enter into on behalf of their member institutions. Specifically, it allows these corporations to act as lead agencies or contracting units for the procurement of a broader range of goods and services, including educational technology systems and related services. Additionally, the bill permits these corporations to enter into agreements with voting member institutions of higher education to provide services, consulting, staffing, or goods related to educational technology systems and support services.

Importantly, the bill exempts these agreements from public bidding requirements under state law, including the County College Contracts Law and the State College Contracts Law. This change aims to streamline the procurement process for educational institutions and enhance collaboration among them. The bill emphasizes that while educational research and service corporations must still adhere to applicable state and local procurement laws, the new provisions provide significant flexibility in how they can operate and engage with member institutions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:3B-6.1