Chap. 172.—An ACT to create a State purchasing commission, to provide for
and designate a State purchasing agent, and to prescribe the powers and
duties of the said purchasing commission and purchasing agent. [S B 75]

Approved March 15, 1920.

Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, as follows:

Sec. 1. A State purchasing commission is hereby created, com-
osed of the governor, treasurer, and auditor of public accounts. The
rovernor shall be chairman of said commission, and the commissioner
1f State hospitals, who is hereby designated State purchasing agent,
hall be and act as secretary of the said commission, but shall not be
1 member thereof. The members of the commission shall receive no
\dditional compensation for serving thereon, but the State purchasing
gent shall receive such compensation, for performing the duties 1m-
sed on him by this act, as may be appropriated by law for the pur-
ose. The State purchasing agent shall be under the supervision and
ontrol of the State purchasing commission, and the said commission
; hereby authorized and directed to prescribe such rules and regula-
ions, not in conflict with this act, as may be necessary to insure the
oper and efficient performance by the State purchasing agent of the
duties required of him, either by his act, or by said commission acting
under the authority hereby conferred.

sec. 2. The powers of the State purchasing agent shall be ad-
visory and co-operative only, and all State officers, boards, commis-
sions and institutions are hereby authorized, in their discretion, to
seek the aid, assistance and co-operation of the State purchasing agent
in the advantageous purchase of supplies of every nature needed for
their respective functions, especially to the end that, by collective
purchasing, cheaper prices may be obtained. Whenever such aid, as-
sistance, or co-operation is requested of the State purchasing agent, it
shall be his duty to render the same.

Sec. 3. The State purchasing agent may advertise for bids on
State purchases in such manner and for such lengths of time as may
be approved by the State purchasing commission. When any bids
shall have been accepted, the purchasing agent may require of the suc-
cessful bidder a bond payable to the Commonwealth, with good and
sufficient surety, in the sum of not less than one-third of the amount
of the bid, to be approved by the attorney general, conditioned that
he will fully, faithfully and accurately execute the terms of the con-
tract into which he has entered. The bond shall be filed in the office
of the secretary of the Commonwealth and recoveries may be had on
it until exhausted.

Sec. 4. All purchases made by or through the State purchasing
agent shall be paid for in the same manner and out of the same funds
as if the purchase had not been made by or through him, but in every
case in which he makes a purchase, a duplicate invoice for the goods
shall be sent to him for his examination and files.

Sec. 5. The State purchasing agent, with the approval of the
State purchasing commission, may employ such assistants as may be
necessary to enable him to discharge his duties and may fix their com-
pensation, but the same shall not exceed that authorized in the bien-
nial appropriation act or other act of the assembly.

Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the State purchasing agent to make
an annual report on the first day of January to the State purchasing
commission, which report shall outline the work done by him during
the year for which the report is made, and the said commission shall
lay all such reports before the general assembly at its next ensuing
session, together with such information relating to the operation of
this act, or recommendations as to amendments, as may seem conducive
to the public interests.

Sec. 7. An emergency existing, this act shall be mn force from
its passage.