Bill > SB2670

This bill, known as the "Higher Education Purchasing Act," allows eligible private colleges and universities in Tennessee to purchase goods and services through the same state contracts that public institutions use, which often offer significantly lower prices. An "eligible private institution of higher education" is defined as a private, nonprofit, accredited college or university located and authorized to operate in Tennessee. This access to "state cooperative purchasing contracts," which are agreements administered by the state for discounted purchasing, is voluntary for these private institutions and does not require any state funding or create financial responsibility for the state. The bill ensures that this access will not reduce the availability or increase the price of goods for public institutions, nor will it create any new state liability, and vendors are prohibited from charging private institutions higher prices than they charge public ones for the same items. The Department of General Services, in coordination with the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, will establish a simple process for these private institutions to enroll and verify their eligibility without any participation fees, and vendors are prohibited from retaliating against institutions that choose to participate.

Government Affairs

https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/Billinfo/Default?BillNumber=SB2670&ga=114