Chapter
264
2006 -- S 2531
Enacted 07/03/06
A N A
C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION
Introduced By: Senators
Doyle, Polisena, Walaska, Issa, and Ruggerio
Date Introduced: February
09, 2006
It is enacted
by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION
1. Chapter 16-5 of the General Laws entitled "State Aid" is hereby
amended
by
adding thereto the following section:
16-5-34.
Statewide purchasing system. -- The department of elementary and secondary
education,
pursuant to the collaborative established in Rhode Island General Laws section.
6-2-
9.2
along with the department of administration, shall develop a plan for the
establishment and
implementation
of a statewide purchasing system for all public schools in this state. Said
statewide
purchasing system shall develop requests for proposals relating to goods and
services to
enhance
and support the mission of public schools and public education in general
throughout this
state,
including, but not limited to, the purchase of the following goods, supplies,
and services:
(a)
General school supplies such as paper goods, office supplies, and cleaning
products
that
are or may be utilized by school departments;
(b)
Textbooks, telecommunications, wireless services, and software that have been
identified
by local school departments as needed to support local curriculum objectives;
(c)
A statewide school transportation system for children with special needs. Local
school
departments shall be eligible to participate in this system by purchasing
transportation
services
on a fee-for-service basis. It is stated herein that the goals and intent of
establishing this
state-wide
transportation system for children with special needs shall be as follows:
(1)
To reduce the duplication of bus routes;
(2)
To improve services to children through the development of shorter, more
efficient
routes
that minimize the amount of time spent by the student traveling on school
transportation to
and
from school and school-related/sponsored activities; and
(3)
To reduce transportation costs to local educational authorities through greater
efficiency
and cost-effective measures.
(d)
General non-medical and dental insurance products and services, provided
however,
that
the statewide purchasing system shall permit districts to establish their own
benefit and
coverage
levels.
(e)
The department of elementary and secondary education, in collaboration with the
department
of administration, shall also develop policies and procedures to reduce the
cost of
health
care insurance to local school departments by developing a collaborative
process which
shall
include local educational authorities and representatives of local educational
unions in
discussions
of cost saving efficiencies that could be achieved by including these employees
in a
state
health insurance contract.
SECTION
2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC02283
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