SB59 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Trip Pittman

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Paul SanfordArthur OrrBill Holtzclaw

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee, emergency contracts treatment, Secs. 29-2-41.1, 41-16-72 am'd.; Act 2011-577, 2011 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Summary

SB59 tightens emergency contract rules and clarifies oversight to limit duration and prevent repeat emergency deals.

What This Bill Does

It limits emergency contracts that are exempt from Contract Review Committee review to 60 days and bars a second identical or substantially similar emergency contract for those services for one year after the start of the initial contract. If an emergency contract is followed by a longer-term contract, the committee’s review for the longer contract may run concurrently with the emergency term. For emergencies involving professional services, agencies may bypass the usual selection process for up to 60 days, but longer arrangements still face committee review. The bill also outlines how professional services are selected (lists, criteria, price consideration) and lists certain entities that are exempt from or subject to these processes.

Who It Affects

• State agencies and heads of institutions: must notify the Contract Review Committee about emergency contracts and manage duration and renewal restrictions.
• Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee: gains authority to review longer-term emergency contracts concurrently with the emergency period and to oversee the new timing rules.
• Professional service providers (attorneys, physicians, engineers, architects, etc.): may be procured via emergency procedures for up to 60 days, with longer-term arrangements still subject to oversight and selection rules.
• Vendors and service providers in professional services: must be listed and evaluated under the state’s selection processes, with price considerations and potential Governor/Finance approvals; some entities are exempt from standard processes.

Key Provisions

• Emergency contracts exempt from committee review are capped at 60 days; a second identical or substantially similar emergency contract for the same services cannot be let within one calendar year of the initial contract.
• Heads of institutions/agencies must notify the Contract Review Committee when an emergency contract is let and when a longer-term follow-up contract is anticipated; the committee’s review for the longer contract runs concurrently with the emergency contract.
• For emergencies involving professional services, the required process may be bypassed for up to 60 days; if longer-term services are needed, the committee will review the longer-term contract.
• Professional services must generally be procured through listed providers with selection based on skill, experience, and cost, with fees negotiated and approved by the Governor or Director of Finance as designated; price is a factor in selecting providers.
• The process for selecting professional service providers includes dissemination of notices, competition based on qualification criteria, and good-faith negotiations, with specific fee and schedule controls in certain cases (e.g., Building Commission schedules).
• Certain entities (Legislature, Alabama State Port Authority, and some higher education bodies) are exempt from the standard professional services process, with some exceptions for specific IT-related procurements and state oversight.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Competitive Bids