University purchasing bill introduced

The House Ways & Means Committee has introduced legislation sought by Boise State University that would free state universities to follow their own purchasing policies, rather than go through both their university processes and the state’s purchasing process. The University of Idaho already can do that, because it predated statehood, but the duplicative process has long been a complaint of Boise State University President Bob Kustra. “This will make the universities more nimble, if you will,” said House Assistant Majority Leader Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, who presented the bill to the leadership committee. Former House Speaker Bruce Newcomb, now a BSU lobbyist, attended the meeting but left the pitch to Bedke, the bill’s lead sponsor; Bedke said it’ll allow universities to better deal with grants and accreditation concerns. It was introduced on a unanimous vote.