1     
EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT DECLARATION

2     
MODIFICATIONS

3     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Candice B. Pierucci

6     
Senate Sponsor: Daniel McCay

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     Committee Note:
10          The Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee recommended
11     this bill.
12               Legislative Vote:     13 voting for     1 voting against     3 absent
13     General Description:
14          This bill modifies provisions related to the public procurement of goods or services
15     during an emergency.
16     Highlighted Provisions:
17          This bill:
18          ▸     defines terms;
19          ▸     modifies reporting requirements related to an emergency procurement;
20          ▸     limits the term length of a contract entered into for an emergency procurement; and
21          ▸     makes technical changes.
22     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
23          None
24     Other Special Clauses:
25          None
26     Utah Code Sections Affected:
27     AMENDS:

28          63G-6a-803, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2020, Chapter 365
29     

30     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
31          Section 1. Section 63G-6a-803 is amended to read:
32          63G-6a-803. Emergency procurement.
33          (1) As used in this section, "natural disaster" means an event where:
34          (a) one or more of the following has caused widespread damage:
35          (i) an explosion;
36          (ii) fire;
37          (iii) a flood;
38          (iv) a storm;
39          (v) a tornado;
40          (vi) winds;
41          (vii) an earthquake;
42          (viii) lightning; or
43          (ix) other adverse weather event; and
44          (b) the president of the United States has declared an emergency or major disaster in
45     the state, or the governor has declared a state of emergency under Title 53, Chapter 2a, Part 2,
46     Disaster Response and Recovery Act.
47          [(1)] (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter and subject to Subsection
48     (4), a procurement official may authorize a procurement unit to engage in an emergency
49     procurement without using a standard procurement process if the procurement is necessary to:
50          (a) avoid a lapse in a critical government service;
51          (b) mitigate a circumstance that is likely to have a negative impact on public health,
52     safety, welfare, or property, including a natural disaster; or
53          (c) protect the legal interests of a public entity.
54          [(2)] (3) A procurement unit conducting an emergency procurement under Subsection
55     [(1)] (2) shall:
56          (a) ensure that the procurement is made with as much competition as reasonably
57     practicable while:
58          (i) avoiding a lapse in a critical government service;

59          (ii) avoiding harm, or a risk of harm, to the public health, safety, welfare, or property;
60     or
61          (iii) protecting the legal interests of a public entity; and
62          [(b) after the emergency has abated, prepare a written document explaining the
63     emergency condition that necessitated the emergency procurement under Subsection (1).]
64          (b) make the following publicly available on the procurement unit's website within 14
65     days of the emergency procurement:
66          (i) a written document describing the specific emergency that necessitated the
67     emergency procurement;
68          (ii) the name of the highest ranking government official that approved the emergency
69     procurement; and
70          (iii) each written contract related to the emergency procurement.
71          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), the term of a contract entered into for
72     an emergency procurement under this section may be no longer than 30 days.
73          (b) The term of a contract entered into for an emergency procurement under this
74     section related to a natural disaster may be no longer than 60 days.