Bill > SB117

This bill amends existing Alabama law to allow county commissions to expand their procurement or purchasing programs, which are essentially payment programs used as an alternative to traditional purchase orders, to include the purchase of services in addition to tangible personal property. The key change is that these programs must now be designed to provide significant cost savings or administrative savings to the county, meaning they should help the county save money or reduce the time and effort spent on purchasing. The bill also clarifies that a "procurement or purchasing program" involves using a card for limited purchases of specific items or services, with designated individuals making these purchases under the county commission's approval. Before implementing such a program, county commissions must determine that it meets accounting standards, provides cost or administrative savings, includes necessary documentation, has safeguards against mismanagement, and is overseen by the chief administrative officer or their designee. The bill also outlines specific written policies and procedures that must be adopted, including monetary limits on individual and monthly purchases, training for card users, oversight procedures, record-keeping requirements, and a mandate that all purchases are paid or settled within 45 days, with the possibility of suspending purchasing authority if this deadline is missed. This act is set to become effective on October 1, 2026.