HB 263 Correctional enterprises; Director of Purchases & Supply et al , to grant certain exemption, report

About HB-263

Correctional enterprises; exemption from mandatory purchase provisions. Provides that state departments, institutions, and agencies may be granted an exemption from mandatory procurement of articles produced or manufactured by persons confined in state correctional facilities with the consent of both the Director of the Division of Purchases and Supply and the Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia Correctional Enterprises Program. The bill adds that an exemption may be granted if an identical article can be obtained at a verified lesser cost from the private sector, which is evidenced by a verified request for pricing. The bill requires that on or before November 30, 2012, the Director of the Department of General Services and the Director of the Department of Corrections report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the impact of the implementation of the provisions of the bill, including any cost savings to the Commonwealth, efficiencies realized, the impact on prisoner re-entry, and safety in correctional institutions. The Departments may include in the report recommendations for improvement in the process.