NASHVILLE – The House State Government Subcommittee is scheduled this week to hear legislation intended to improve oversight, legislative involvement, and transparency over the state’s outsourcing process.
HB944, introduced last year and studied extensively over the summer including during one committee meeting which saw thirteen state agencies testify, is scheduled to be heard this Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
“As the state of Tennessee increasingly seeks to outsource goods and critical public services, which are crucial to the well-being of Tennessee’s citizens, the need for robust contract management and strict contract oversight grows,” TSEA Executive Director Randy Stamps said. “We believe House Bill 944 and Senate Bill 1047, as amended over the summer, add a layer of much-needed protection for state employees and taxpayers by improving the management and oversight of state contracts.”
Last fall, after two summer study hearings on the bill, Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Briggs in his closing comments said, “We really would like the state to prove when we go to outsource something that it’s not a job that could be done by state employees.” Chairman Briggs continued, “if all of those things are equal, we’re going to give the benefit of the doubt to the people that work for us already.”
TSEA during the 2017 legislative session introduced HB944/SB1047 sponsored by Rep. Tilman Goins and Sen. Janice Bowling, to bring oversight, legislative involvement, and transparency to the way Tennessee contracts for goods and services. While the bill did not pass in 2017, the legislature deemed the bill to have merit and sent it to summer study for further discussion.
TSEA looks forward to continuing working with members of the legislature to get this vital piece of legislation passed this year.
