This bill mandates the Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) to annually adjust the monetary threshold for the pay-to-play prohibition related to contracts with State agencies, counties, municipalities, school boards, and fire districts. The adjustment must align with the public bidding threshold established for counties and municipalities, which is currently set at $44,000 and is reviewed every five years. The new legal language specifies that the adjusted transaction and contract values will apply to entities that have designated a qualified purchasing agent, while those without such an agent will remain subject to the existing threshold of $17,500.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to incorporate the new threshold values, allowing for contracts exceeding $17,500 or the adjusted amount to be awarded only if they follow a fair and open process, particularly if the business entity has made campaign contributions to candidates in the relevant jurisdiction within the past year. The bill aims to enhance transparency and accountability in public contracting by ensuring that contributions do not influence contract awards, thereby promoting fair competition among businesses seeking government contracts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 19:44A-20.3, 19:44A-20.4, 19:44A-20.5, 19:44A-20.14, 19:44A-20.15, 19:44A-20.26