SB 304: Monterey-Salinas Transit District: public contracting.

Existing law creates the Monterey-Salinas Transit District to include all of the County of Monterey, with specified powers and duties related to public transit service. Existing law requires the district to award contracts for the purchase of supplies, equipment, and materials in excess of $100,000 to the lowest responsible bidder, or to the responsible bidder that provides the best value, as provided. Existing law requires the district to obtain a minimum of 3 quotations, as provided, that permit prices and terms to be compared, whenever the expected expenditure required for the purchase of supplies, equipment, or materials exceeds $2,500 but does not exceed $100,000.

This bill would increase to $150,000 the monetary threshold for contracts above which the district is required to award contracts to the lowest responsible bidder, or to the responsible bidder that provides the best value, as provided. The bill would also require the district to obtain a minimum of 3 quotations, as provided, that permit prices and terms to be compared whenever the expected expenditure required for the purchase instead exceeds $5,000 but does not exceed $150,000. The bill would also, until January 1, 2030, apply those rules concerning monetary thresholds for contracts to contracts for the purchase of services, excluding services related to certain public construction projects and architectural, landscape architectural, engineering, environmental, land surveying, or construction project management services. To the extent these provisions impose new duties on the district, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.