Contracts for professional services authorized; procedures; negotiating committee, composition and duties; exemption from certain statutes; "person" defined

(a) In accordance with the provisions of subsection (b), the state corporation commission is hereby authorized to contract for professional services, including but not limited to the services of engineers, accountants, attorneys and economists, to assist in investigations and appraisals under K.S.A. 66-1502, and amendments thereto, which assistance may include preparation and presentation of expert testimony, when the expenses of such professional services are required to be assessed under that statute against the public utilities involved. (b) Such contracts shall be negotiated by a negotiating committee composed of the following persons: The general counsel of the state corporation commission or the designee of the general counsel; the director of the budget or the designee of the director; the director of accounts and reports or the designee of the director; and the director of the appropriate division of the state corporation commission, as determined and designated by the chairperson of the state corporation commission, or the designee of the director. When a contract authorized under subsection (a) is proposed to be entered into, the general counsel of the state corporation commission or the designee of the general counsel shall convene the negotiating committee. The negotiating committee shall consider all proposals by persons applying to perform such contract and shall award the contract. (c) Such contracts shall not be subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 75-3739, and amendments thereto, or to the provisions of the acts contained in article 58 of chapter 75 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated. (d) As used in this section, "person" means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other legal entity.