The Idaho Senate Monday approved giving some public universities and college more leeway in making purchasing decisions for the next three years.  The proposal is supposed to increase efficiency and flexibility for schools that have seen reduced state funding during the economic downturn.  Boise State University President Bob Kustra has advocated for more purchasing power for universities.

“The idea here is to cut down on the time that it takes for purchasing to occur,” said Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, who sponsored the legislation.  Currently, state universities and colleges need to have some purchases approved by  the state before they can order equipment for educational purposes.  “This would allow the higher education institutes to purchase items,” Winder said.  “It may be such things as expensive lab equipment, electronic microscopes, (and) other things that would allow them to fulfill their mission.”  The University of Idaho already handles its own purchasing, because it was founded before the Idaho Constitution was written and Idaho became a state.

Read IdahoReporter.com’s story on the House approval of the legislation here.