(a) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the commissioner of environment and conservation has the authority to cause to be purchased and to develop the method for purchasing, without the approval of any other agency of state government, services, raw materials, merchandise for resale, supplies and equipment necessary for provision of quality services for state park operations. This section shall not be construed to allow the department to contract for services previously accomplished for the parks by state employees or for services that could reasonably be expected to be accomplished by state employees.
Terms Used In Tennessee Code 11-3-112
Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) It is the responsibility of the commissioner of environment and conservation to develop policies and procedures to ensure, to the extent practicable, that purchases made on behalf of park operations are at the lowest possible price while at the same time ensuring quality and timely delivery. The commissioner shall file such policies and procedures with the procurement commission for the commission’s review and approval.(c) The commissioner has the authority to purchase supplies and equipment through the department of general services and is encouraged to exercise the option to purchase through the department under title 12, chapter 3, in circumstances which are advantageous for the timely delivery of low cost, quality products.(d) For purposes of this section, “park operations” means a park facility used in connection with fee-based recreational activities or intended to be revenue-generating, including, but not limited to: a lodge, inn, cabin, campground, group camp, restaurant, golf course, gift shop, marina or other boat rental facility, visitors center, meeting space, skeet range, snack bar, shelter, or vending machine.(e) No expenditure of public funds pursuant to this section shall be made in violation of the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d).
