H.B. 1466                                                     VETOES

        (XII) ESTABLISH POLICIES FOR THE EFFECTIVE TRAINING OF STATE
PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS TO ENSURE THAT THE STATE'S PROCUREMENT SYSTEM
IS UTILIZING THE MOST ADVANCED PROCUREMENT METHODS AND MANAGEMENT
TECHNIQUES;

(XIII)   COORDINATE ACTIVITIES WITH OTHER ENTITIES
PERFORMING SIMILAR FUNCTIONS;

(XIV) REVIEW INTERNAL AUDIT REPORTS AND COMMENT AS
APPROPRIATE; AND

(XV)  BE THE PRINCIPAL STAFF TO THE PROCUREMENT ADVISORY
COUNCIL; AND

(XVI) NOTIFY THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR WHEN HE UNDERTAKES
AN INVESTIGATION UNDER ITEM (VI) OR (VII) OF THIS PARAGRAPH;

(3) THE PROCUREMENT ADVISOR SHALL:

(I)       HAVE ACCESS TO ALL BOOKS, ACCOUNTS, RECORDS, REPORTS,
ANY MATERIAL RELATED TO CONTRACTS AND PROCUREMENT, AND ALL OTHER
PAPERS AND EQUIPMENT NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES; AND

(II)     HAVE DIRECT AND PROMPT ACCESS TO ALL HEADS OF
AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.

(B) (1) (I) THE BOARD SHALL APPOINT A GENERAL COUNSEL, WHO SERVES
AT THE PLEASURE OF THE BOARD.

(II) THE GENERAL COUNSEL SHALL BE AN ATTORNEY IN THIS STATE.

(2) THE GENERAL COUNSEL SHALL:

(I) PROVIDE INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE TO THE BOARD;

(II)     EXAMINE ALL PROCUREMENTS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY
THE BOARD AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD AS TO THE LEGAL
SUFFICIENCY OF THE PROCUREMENTS, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON WHETHER THE
PROPOSED PROCUREMENT HAS BEEN COMPETITIVELY CONDUCTED;

(III)       ASSIST THE PROCUREMENT ADVISOR IN INVESTIGATIONS
UNDERTAKEN BY THE PROCUREMENT ADVISOR;

(IV)    ASSIST THE PROCUREMENT ADVISOR IN RESPONDING TO
COMPLAINTS MADE BY STATE EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AND OTHER INTERESTED
PARTIES CONCERNING FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE IN THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS OR
ANY ALLEGED VIOLATION OF THE PROCUREMENT LAW AND REGULATIONS; AND

(V) COMPILE INFORMATION FOR DISTRIBUTION TO STATE
PROCUREMENT OFFICIALS RELATING TO RECENT DECISIONS OF THE MARYLAND STATE
BOARD OF CONTRACT APPEALS AND STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS CONCERNING
PROCUREMENT, INCLUDING ANY POLICY OR LEGAL GUIDANCE TO THE PROCUREMENT
OFFICIALS BASED ON THESE DECISIONS.

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