(1) An institution of higher education may exercise independently those powers otherwise granted to the director of general administration in chapter 43.19 RCW in connection with the purchase and disposition of all material, supplies, services, and equipment needed for the support, maintenance, and use of the respective institution of higher education. Property disposition policies followed by institutions of higher education shall be consistent with policies followed by the department of general administration. Purchasing policies and procedures followed by institutions of higher education shall be in compliance with chapters 39.19, 39.29, and 43.03 RCW, and RCW 43.19.1901, 43.19.1906, 43.19.1911, 43.19.1917, 43.19.1937, 43.19.534, 43.19.685, 43.19.700 through 43.19.704, and 43.19.560 through43.19.637 . The community and technical colleges shall comply with RCW 43.19.450. Except for the University of Washington, institutions of higher education shall comply with RCW 43.41.310, 43.41.290, and 43.41.350. If an institution of higher education can satisfactorily demonstrate to the director of the office of financial management that the cost of compliance is greater than the value of benefits from any of the following statutes, then it shall be exempt from them: RCW 43.19.685; 43.19.534; and43.19.637 . Any institution of higher education that chooses to exercise independent purchasing authority for a commodity or group of commodities shall notify the director of general administration. Thereafter the director of general administration shall not be required to provide those services for that institution for the duration of the general administration contract term for that commodity or group of commodities.

     (2) The council of presidents and the state board for community and technical colleges shall convene its correctional industries business development advisory committee, and work collaboratively with correctional industries, to:

     (a) Reaffirm purchasing criteria and ensure that quality, service, and timely delivery result in the best value for expenditure of state dollars;

     (b) Update the approved list of correctional industries products from which higher education shall purchase; and

     (c) Develop recommendations on ways to continue to build correctional industries' business with institutions of higher education.

     (3) Higher education and correctional industries shall develop a plan to build higher education business with correctional industries to increase higher education purchases of correctional industries products, based upon the criteria established in subsection (2) of this section. The plan shall include the correctional industries' production and sales goals for higher education and an approved list of products from which higher education institutions shall purchase, based on the criteria established in subsection (2) of this section. Higher education and correctional industries shall report to the legislature regarding the plan and its implementation no later than January 30, 2005.

     (4) Institutions of higher education shall set as a target to contract, beginning not later than June 30, 2006, to purchase one percent of the total goods and services required by the institutions each year produced or provided in whole or in part from class II inmate work programs operated by the department of corrections. Institutions of higher education shall set as a target to contract, beginning not later than June 30, 2008, to purchase two percent of the total goods and services required by the institutions each year produced or provided in whole or in part from class II inmate work programs operated by the department of corrections.

     (5) An institution of higher education may exercise independently those powers otherwise granted to the public printer in chapter 43.78 RCW in connection with the production or purchase of any printing and binding needed by the respective institution of higher education. Purchasing policies and procedures followed by institutions of higher education shall be in compliance with chapter 39.19 RCW. Any institution of higher education that chooses to exercise independent printing production or purchasing authority shall notify the public printer. Thereafter the public printer shall not be required to provide those services for that institution.

[2004 c 167 § 10. Prior: 1998 c 344 § 5; 1998 c 111 § 2; 1996 c 110 § 5; 1993 c 379 § 101.]

NOTES:

     Intent -- Findings -- 1998 c 344: See note following RCW 28B.38.010.

     Intent -- 1993 c 379: "The legislature acknowledges the academic freedom of institutions of higher education, and seeks to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out their missions. By this act, the legislature intends to increase the flexibility of institutions of higher education to manage personnel, construction, purchasing, printing, and tuition." [1993 c 379 § 1.]

     Severability -- 1993 c 379: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [1993 c 379 § 407.]

     Effective date -- 1993 c 379: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1993." [1993 c 379 § 408.]