A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to require the department of transportation to use a competitive bidding process when entering into contracts or other agreements with private outside legal counsel.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 136‑18.03 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(e)	Bidding Required. – For contracts or other agreements entered into under subsection (b) of this section, at least three bids shall be solicited. The bids shall be solicited through public advertising under rules and regulations to be made and published by the Department. The contract or other agreement shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder that is approved in accordance with G.S. 147‑17. The Secretary of Transportation shall keep a record of all bids submitted and that record shall be subject to public inspection at any time after the bids are opened."
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Department of Transportation the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2016‑2017 fiscal year to be used to cover costs associated with the public advertising requirements of G.S. 136‑18.03, as amended by Section 1 of this act.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2016, and applies to legal services solicited on or after that date.