(a) (1) The State Procurement Director shall establish an in-person training and certification program to facilitate the training, continuing education, and annual certification of state agency procurement personnel.(2) The training and certification program required under subdivision (a)(1) of this section may be offered through an in-person training course or a live, virtual course.
(1) The State Procurement Director shall establish an in-person training and certification program to facilitate the training, continuing education, and annual certification of state agency procurement personnel.
(2) The training and certification program required under subdivision (a)(1) of this section may be offered through an in-person training course or a live, virtual course.
(b) As part of the training and certification program required under this section, the director:(1) Shall conduct procurement education and training for state agency employees and other public employees;(2) (A) Shall establish a tiered core curriculum that outlines the minimum procurement-related training courses a state agency employee is required to complete for certification.(B) The tiered core curriculum required under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section shall:(i) Be designed to develop procurement competency; and(ii) Create a uniform training approach for state agency employees ranging from entry-level procurement personnel to agency procurement officials;(3) May charge a reasonable fee for each participant to cover the cost of providing the training required under this section;(4) May conduct, develop, and collaborate with established training programs, if any, for the purpose of providing certifications of proficiency to state agency employees who complete the training and certification program;(5) May conduct research into existing and new procurement methods; and(6) May establish and maintain a state procurement library.
(1) Shall conduct procurement education and training for state agency employees and other public employees;
(2) (A) Shall establish a tiered core curriculum that outlines the minimum procurement-related training courses a state agency employee is required to complete for certification.(B) The tiered core curriculum required under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section shall:(i) Be designed to develop procurement competency; and(ii) Create a uniform training approach for state agency employees ranging from entry-level procurement personnel to agency procurement officials;
(A) Shall establish a tiered core curriculum that outlines the minimum procurement-related training courses a state agency employee is required to complete for certification.
(B) The tiered core curriculum required under subdivision (b)(2)(A) of this section shall:(i) Be designed to develop procurement competency; and(ii) Create a uniform training approach for state agency employees ranging from entry-level procurement personnel to agency procurement officials;
(i) Be designed to develop procurement competency; and
(ii) Create a uniform training approach for state agency employees ranging from entry-level procurement personnel to agency procurement officials;
(3) May charge a reasonable fee for each participant to cover the cost of providing the training required under this section;
(4) May conduct, develop, and collaborate with established training programs, if any, for the purpose of providing certifications of proficiency to state agency employees who complete the training and certification program;
(5) May conduct research into existing and new procurement methods; and
(6) May establish and maintain a state procurement library.
(c) (1) A state agency employee shall not conduct a procurement under this chapter unless the state agency employee is certified annually through the training and certification program required under this section.(2) To maintain certification under this section, a state agency employee shall complete a reasonable number of hours of continuing education each year, as provided for by rule by the director.
(1) A state agency employee shall not conduct a procurement under this chapter unless the state agency employee is certified annually through the training and certification program required under this section.
(2) To maintain certification under this section, a state agency employee shall complete a reasonable number of hours of continuing education each year, as provided for by rule by the director.
(d) (1) The director shall revoke the certification of a state agency employee who is certified under this section and who is determined to have knowingly violated state procurement laws, Arkansas Code Title 19, Subtitle 4.(2) The director shall adopt rules regarding the procedure for revoking a state agency employee's certification under this section.
(1) The director shall revoke the certification of a state agency employee who is certified under this section and who is determined to have knowingly violated state procurement laws, Arkansas Code Title 19, Subtitle 4.
(2) The director shall adopt rules regarding the procedure for revoking a state agency employee's certification under this section.
(e) (1) The director shall report to the Review Subcommittee of the Legislative Council concerning:(A) The progress made in developing and implementing the training and certification program required under this section; and(B) The state agencies that have had employees complete the training and certification program required under this section.(2) The report required under this subsection shall be presented:(A) For the first year following August 5, 2025, every ninety (90) days; and(B) Annually each subsequent year.
(1) The director shall report to the Review Subcommittee of the Legislative Council concerning:(A) The progress made in developing and implementing the training and certification program required under this section; and(B) The state agencies that have had employees complete the training and certification program required under this section.
(A) The progress made in developing and implementing the training and certification program required under this section; and
(B) The state agencies that have had employees complete the training and certification program required under this section.
(2) The report required under this subsection shall be presented:(A) For the first year following August 5, 2025, every ninety (90) days; and(B) Annually each subsequent year.
(A) For the first year following August 5, 2025, every ninety (90) days; and
(B) Annually each subsequent year.