§ 10-10 — Independent State purchasing officers

(a) The chief procurement officer shall appoint and determine the salary of a State purchasing officer for each agency that the chief procurement officer is responsible for under Section 1-15.15. A State purchasing officer shall be located in the State agency that the officer serves but shall report to his or her respective chief procurement officer. The State purchasing officer shall have direct communication with agency staff assigned to assist with any procurement process. At the direction of his or her respective chief procurement officer, a State purchasing officer shall have the authority to (i) review any contract or contract amendment prior to execution to ensure that applicable procurement and contracting standards were followed and (ii) approve or reject contracts for a purchasing agency. If the State purchasing officer provides written approval of the contract, the head of the applicable State agency shall have the authority to sign and enter into that contract. All actions of a State purchasing officer are subject to review by a chief procurement officer in accordance with procedures and policies established by the chief procurement officer. (a-5) A State purchasing officer may (i) attend any procurement meetings; (ii) access any records or files related to procurement; (iii) submit reports to the chief procurement officer on procurement issues; (iv) ensure the State agency is maintaining appropriate records; and (v) ensure transparency of the procurement process. (a-10) If a State purchasing officer is aware of misconduct, waste, or inefficiency with respect to State procurement, the State purchasing officer shall advise the State agency of the issue in writing. If the State agency does not correct the issue, the State purchasing officer shall report the problem, in writing, to the chief procurement officer and appropriate Inspector General. (b) In addition to any other requirement or qualification required by State law, within 30 months after appointment, a State purchasing officer must be a Certified Professional Public Buyer or a Certified Public Purchasing Officer, pursuant to certification by the Universal Public Purchasing Certification Council or the Institute for Supply Management. A State purchasing officer shall serve a term of 5 years beginning on the date of the officer's appointment. A State purchasing officer shall have an office located in the State agency that the officer serves but shall report to the chief procurement officer. A State purchasing officer may be removed by a chief procurement officer for cause after a hearing by the Executive Ethics Commission. The chief procurement officer or executive officer of the State agency housing the State purchasing officer may institute a complaint against the State purchasing officer by filing such a complaint with the Commission and the Commission shall have a public hearing based on the complaint. The State purchasing officer, chief procurement officer, and executive officer of the State agency shall receive notice of the hearing and shall be permitted to present their respective arguments on the complaint. After the hearing, the Commission shall make a non-binding recommendation on whether the State purchasing officer shall be removed. The salary of a State purchasing officer shall be established by the chief procurement officer and may not be diminished during the officer's term. In the absence of an appointed State purchasing officer, the applicable chief procurement officer shall exercise the procurement authority created by this Code and may appoint a temporary acting State purchasing officer. (c) Each State purchasing officer owes a fiduciary duty to the State.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-8, eff. 6-7-23.)