66-1513. Contracts for professional services authorized; procedures; negotiating committee, composition and duties; exemption from certain statutes; "person" defined.

66-1513

Chapter 66.--PUBLIC UTILITIES
Article 15.--COSTS AND EXPENSES OF INVESTIGATION AND REGULATION; HEARINGS

      66-1513.   Contracts for professional services authorized;procedures; negotiating committee, composition and duties; exemptionfrom certain statutes; "person" defined.(a) In accordance with the provisions of subsection (b),the state corporation commission is hereby authorized to contract forprofessional services, including but not limited to the services ofengineers, accountants, attorneys and economists, to assist ininvestigations and appraisals under K.S.A. 66-1502, andamendments thereto, which assistance may include preparation andpresentation of expert testimony, when the expenses of such professionalservices are required to be assessed under that statute against thepublic utilities involved.

      (b)   Such contracts shall be negotiated by a negotiating committeecomposed of the following persons: The general counsel of the statecorporation commission or the designee of the generalcounsel; the directorof the budget or the designee of the director; the director of accountsand reports or the designee of the director; and the director of the appropriatedivision of the state corporationcommission, as determined and designated by the chairperson of the statecorporation commission, or the designeeof the director. When a contract authorized under subsection (a) isproposed to be entered into, the general counsel ofthe state corporationcommission or the designee of the general counsel shall convene thenegotiating committee. The negotiating committee shall consider allproposals by persons applying to perform such contract and shall awardthe contract.

      (c)   Such contracts shall not be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 75-3739,and amendments thereto, or to the provisions of theacts contained in article 58 of chapter 75 of the Kansas StatutesAnnotated.

      (d)   As used in this section, "person" means an individual, firm,partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity.

      History:   L. 1979, ch. 237, § 1; L. 1983, ch. 225, § 1; July 1.