66-1225a. Citizens' utility ratepayer board; negotiation for contracts for professional services; negotiating committee. (a) The citizens' utility ratepayer board is hereby authorized to negotiate for contracts for professional services. Professional services which are required to be assessed under K.S.A. 66-1502, and amendments thereto, against the public utilities involved, include, but are not limited to, the services of engineers, accountants, attorneys and economists, in order to assist in preparing and presenting the expert testimony or otherwise carrying out the duties of the board.

(b) The negotiation for the contracts shall be performed by a negotiating committee which shall consist of the following: (1) The consumer counsel of the citizens' utility ratepayer board or the consumer counsel's designee; (2) the director of the budget or that director's designee; (3) the director of accounts and reports or that director's designee; and (4) the chairperson of the citizens' utility ratepayer board or the chairperson's designee. The consumer counsel of the citizens' utility ratepayer board or the consumer counsel's designee shall convene the negotiating committee for each such contract. The negotiating committee is authorized to negotiate for the contract for the professional services with qualified parties to provide services needed by the board. The negotiating committee shall consider all proposals by parties applying to perform such contract and award the contract to the best qualified party.

(c) Contracts entered into under this section shall not be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 75-3739 or 75-37,102, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2008, ch. 122, § 4; July 1.