Section 29-1-1501 - Legislative declaration(1) The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that: (a) It is imperative that the local government procurement process be free from bias so that all qualified persons and entities may compete for local government business;(b) A fair procurement process not only ensures justice and fairness in local government contracting but broadens the procurement contractor pool, which results in efficiencies and, as warranted, promotes the growth of historically underutilized businesses, thereby creating jobs and stimulating the local government's economy; and(c) Establishing a pilot project to identify the perceptual and substantial barriers to entry for historically underutilized businesses in local government procurement is the appropriate way to start this conversation at the state government level.Added by 2021 Ch. 216,§1, eff. 6/7/2021.