§ 16-5-34 - Statewide purchasing system. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-5-34

   § 16-5-34  Statewide purchasing system.– The department of elementary and secondary education, pursuant to thecollaborative established in Rhode Island General Laws § 6-2-9.2 alongwith the department of administration, shall develop a plan for theestablishment and implementation of a statewide purchasing system for allpublic schools in this state. Said statewide purchasing system shall developrequests for proposals relating to goods and services to enhance and supportthe mission of public schools and public education in general throughout thisstate, including, but not limited to, the purchase of the following goods,supplies, and services:

   (a) General school supplies such as paper goods, officesupplies, and cleaning products that are or may be utilized by schooldepartments;

   (b) Textbooks, telecommunications, wireless services, andsoftware that have been identified by local school departments as needed tosupport local curriculum objectives;

   (c) A statewide school transportation system for childrenwith special needs. Local school departments shall be eligible to participatein this system by purchasing transportation services on a fee-for-servicebasis. It is stated herein that the goals and intent of establishing thisstate-wide transportation system for children with special needs shall be asfollows:

   (1) To reduce the duplication of bus routes;

   (2) To improve services to children through the developmentof shorter, more efficient routes that minimize the amount of time spent by thestudent traveling on school transportation to and from school andschool-related/sponsored activities; and

   (3) To reduce transportation costs to local educationalauthorities through greater efficiency and cost-effective measures.

   (d) General non-medical and dental insurance products andservices, provided however, that the statewide purchasing system shall permitdistricts to establish their own benefit and coverage levels.

   (e) The department of elementary and secondary education, incollaboration with the department of administration, shall also developpolicies and procedures to reduce the cost of health care insurance to localschool departments by developing a collaborative process which shall includelocal educational authorities and representatives of local educational unionsin discussions of cost saving efficiencies that could be achieved by includingthese employees in a state health insurance contract.