Minnesota Session Laws - 2000, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 328-S.F.No. 2905 
                  An act relating to municipalities; increasing certain 
                  dollar limits in the Uniform Municipal Contracting 
                  Law; providing an exemption for certain cooperative 
                  purchasing; authorizing county purchases on credit 
                  cards; providing for personal liability for county 
                  officers and employees for unauthorized credit card 
                  purchases; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 
                  471.345, subdivisions 3, 4, and by adding a 
                  subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
                  Statutes, chapter 375. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  [375.171] [CREDIT CARDS.] 
           A county board may authorize the use of a credit card by 
        any county officer or employee otherwise authorized to make a 
        purchase on behalf of the county.  If a county officer or 
        employee makes a purchase by credit card that is not approved by 
        the county board, the officer or employee is personally liable 
        for the amount of the purchase.  A purchase by credit card must 
        otherwise comply with all statutes, rules, or county policy 
        applicable to county purchases. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 471.345, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [CONTRACTS OVER $25,000 $35,000 FOR 
        MUNICIPALITIES OF LESS THAN 2,500 POPULATION; $50,000 FOR ALL 
        OTHERS.] If the amount of the contract is estimated to 
        exceed $25,000 $35,000 for municipalities of less than 2,500 
        population, or $50,000 for all others, sealed bids shall be 
        solicited by public notice in the manner and subject to the 
        requirements of the law governing contracts by the particular 
        municipality or class thereof provided that with regard to 
        repairs and maintenance of ditches, bids shall not be required 
        if the estimated amount of the contract does not exceed the 
        amount specified in section 103E.705, subdivisions 5, 6, and 7. 
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 471.345, 
        subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [CONTRACTS FROM $10,000 TO $25,000 $35,000 FOR 
        MUNICIPALITIES OF LESS THAN 2,500 POPULATION; $50,000 FOR ALL 
        OTHERS.] If the amount of the contract is estimated to exceed 
        $10,000 but not to exceed $25,000 $35,000 for municipalities of 
        less than 2,500 population, or $50,000 for all others, the 
        contract may be made either upon sealed bids or by direct 
        negotiation, by obtaining two or more quotations for the 
        purchase or sale when possible, and without advertising for bids 
        or otherwise complying with the requirements of competitive 
        bidding.  All quotations obtained shall be kept on file for a 
        period of at least one year after receipt thereof. 
           Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 471.345, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 15.  [COOPERATIVE PURCHASING.] A municipality may 
        contract for the purchase of supplies, materials, or equipment 
        without regard to the competitive bidding requirements of this 
        section if the purchase is through a national municipal 
        association's purchasing alliance or cooperative created by a 
        joint powers agreement that purchases items from more than one 
        source on the basis of competitive bids or competitive 
        quotations. 
           Presented to the governor March 31, 2000 
           Signed by the governor April 4, 2000, 3:24 p.m.