State acquisition of information technology goods and services: exemptions.

Existing law provides that specified contracts entered into by any state agency for goods, services, or other specified activities, whether awarded through competitive bidding or not, are void unless and until approved by the Department of General Services, and requires denial of approval if a contract does not meet the required specifications of the bidding process. Under existing law, certain transactions, contracts, and persons are exempt from that law, including transactions pertaining to the acquisition of information technology goods and services, except as specified. This bill would make additional provisions of the law pertaining to state acquisition of goods and services applicable to the acquisition of information technology goods and services, including, among others, the Darfur Contracting Act of 2008 and specified provisions related to discrimination in the provision of benefits by contractors. The bill also would make a nonsubstantive change.