A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT exempting community colleges from the north carolina e‑procurement system and repealing a section of the e‑procurement statute that has expired.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 143‑48.3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143‑48.3.  Electronic procurement.
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(b)	The Department of Administration, in conjunction with the Office of the State Controller and the Office of Information Technology Services may, upon request, provide to all State agencies and universities training in the use of the electronic procurement system.
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(g)	Notwithstanding any provision of this section, this Article, or any rule adopted by the Secretary of Administration, community colleges are exempt from the North Carolina E‑Procurement Service."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 143‑49 reads as rewritten:
"§ 143‑49.  Powers and duties of Secretary.
The Secretary of Administration shall have power and authority, and it shall be his duty, subject to the provisions of this Article:
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(8)	To establish and maintain a procurement card program for use by State agencies and nonexempted constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina. The Secretary of Administration may adopt temporary rules for the implementation and operation of the program in accordance with the payment policies of the State Controller, after consultation with the Office of Information Technology Services. These rules would include the establishment of appropriate order limits that leverage the cost savings and efficiencies of the procurement card program in conjunction with the fullest possible use of the North Carolina E‑Procurement Service. Prior to implementing the program, the Secretary shall consult with the State Controller, the UNC General Administration, the Community Colleges System Office, the State Auditor, the Department of Public Instruction, a representative chosen by the local school administrative units, and the Office of Information Technology Services. The Secretary may periodically adjust the order limit authorized in this section after consulting with the State Controller, the UNC General Administration,  the Department of Public Instruction, and the Office of Information Technology Services.
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SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2011.