Amends TCA Title 4 and Title 12.

This bill creates and amends provisions relative to publications subject to rules and procedures of the commissioner of general services ("commissioner").<br /> <br /> COST DATA FOR PUBLIC DOCUMENTS. <br /> <br /> Present law requires that every department or agency of the state that promulgates public documents cause a certain statement with cost data inserted to be printed on the publication adjacent to the identification of the agency responsible for the publication and makes other provisions relative to cost data for public documents. This bill deletes these provisions.<br /> <br /> CONTROL OF COST<br /> <br /> Present law requires that, in order to control the cost and proliferation of publications and reports printed by state agencies, the commissioner must provide a permanent record of publications issued by state government and must have authority to issue regulations implementing provisions concerning designation in such a manner as to provide for maximum continuity of the publications. This bill deletes this provision.<br /> <br /> DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER<br /> <br /> Present law describes the duties of the commissioner. This bill deletes the current provisions and substitutes the following: <br /> <br /> (1) The commissioner must promulgate rules governing the printing and distribution of publications, including the approval of the design and branding of all publications issued by agencies and departments of this state. However, rules of the publications committee in existence on May 1, 2008, are deemed to be rules of the commissioner for purposes of this provision;<br /> <br /> (2) The commissioner must establish procedures for reviewing and approving all publications for compliance with this state's design and branding requirements; and<br /> <br /> (3) The commissioner may appoint a designee to fulfill the responsibilities described above.<br /> <br /> With regard to the commissioner's duties, present law provides a non-exhaustive list of what constitutes "publications". This bill, instead, defines "publications" as newsletters, stationery, greeting cards, reports, or other material for distribution, that is distributed outside of the department or agency for which it is produced, including material produced by or printed at facilities not operated by this state. This bill specifically excludes emails or letters.<br /> <br /> APPROVAL REQUIRED<br /> <br /> Current law provides that no publication, coming within the jurisdiction of the commissioner must be printed unless it has been approved in accordance with rules promulgated by the commissioner. This bill deletes the current provisions and substitutes the following:<br /> <br /> (1) A publication coming within the jurisdiction of the commissioner must not be distributed unless it has been approved in accordance with current law and rules promulgated by the commissioner; and<br /> <br /> (2) An authorization number must be assigned to each publication that has been approved. The authorization number must be affixed to the publication adjacent to the identification of the agency responsible for the publication. A publication coming within the jurisdiction of the commissioner must not be distributed unless the authorization number has been affixed. A contract must not be entered into, nor a requisition issued, nor acted upon, by a state department or agency for the printing of a publication coming within the jurisdiction of the commissioner at a facility, unless an authorization number has been assigned and will be affixed to the publication . All state contracts and grant agreements that involve or may involve the printing of a publication coming within the jurisdiction of the commissioner, must contain a provision whereby the contractor or grantee agrees that a publication must not be printed unless an authorization number has been obtained and will be affixed to the publication.<br /> <br /> PUBLICATIONS INFORMATION REQUIRED<br /> <br /> Present law requires the commissioner to, at a minimum, keep certain information on each approved publication. This bill specifically deletes the requirement for the commissioner to keep information on each approved publication of the number of copies authorized to be printed, a general list of distribution, and estimate cost of preparation and printing.<br /> <br /> APPROVAL PROCEDURE<br /> <br /> Present law provides that the approval procedure for publications may allow one-time approval of a publication that is printed on a periodic basis and that conforms to the format, design, and purpose of the publication as originally presented to the commissioner of general services for approval without requiring review and approval of subsequent issues of the publication. This bill deletes the word "printed" and substitutes "distributed".<br /> <br /> EXCEPTIONS<br /> <br /> Present law provides that the requirements in present law concerning publications as described above do not apply to any student newspaper publication or annuals or yearbooks. This bill adds the following additional exceptions to application of such requirements:<br /> <br /> (1) Institutions of higher education; <br /> <br /> (2) The judicial branch of state government; or <br /> <br /> (3) State agencies and entities exempted from public purchase laws under the law on exempt agencies and purchases, excluding the office of the comptroller of the treasury and the office of the secretary of state.<br />