Reps. John Gannon, D-Boise, and Judy Boyle, R-Midvale, presented bipartisan legislation in the House Ways & Means Committee this morning to require all contracts issued by state constitutional officers for more than $500,000 to be reported to the Legislature. Gannon told the committee, “Until 1991, constitutional officers were required to report all contracts to the Legislature.” It’s not clear why that was repealed in 1991, he said. “It’s very important to remember that constitutional officers do not have to go through the RFP process,” Gannon said.

Idaho’s constitutional officers – the top state elected officials, including the governor, the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the state controller – aren’t subject to the state’s purchasing laws that cover issuance of contracts, a gap in Idaho’s contract oversight system that was highlighted in a legislative performance evaluation.

Gannon said the idea of requiring the constitutional officers to comply with legislatively set purchasing laws has raised constitutional questions; those are being addressed separately. He said the bill also requires that contracts end at the end of the office-holder’s term. Gannon said he and Boyle have been working on the bill for more than four weeks, and have talked to many about it, including constitutional officers and other lawmakers.

House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, said, “It’s going to be really interesting if we do get to a hearing, to hear what the various constitutional officers think of these changes.” Ways & Means Chair Christy Perry, R-Nampa, said, “I would agree, it’s going to be a very interesting conversation.”

“This is just a check and a balance,” Gannon said. “It’s prospective, it’s not about the past, it’s future.” The committee then voted unanimously to introduce the bill, clearing the way for a hearing.