Larger procurement overhaul prompts debate over sales from Roughrider Industries to state employees

House Bill 1122, a broad overhaul of state procurement statutes that includes provisions authorizing the Office of Management and Budget to adopt rules allowing state officials and employees to make personal purchases from state contracts and prison industries, drew extensive testimony and sharply differing views from business groups, corrections officials and disability advocates.

Representative John Nelson, who introduced the Roughrider Industries portion of the bill, told the Government and Veterans Affairs Committee the measure is intended to preserve a market for products made by incarcerated individuals who participate in job-skills training. “Roughrider Industries . . . have been producing job skills for upon release to for a workforce need that's critical in in every community that we have in North Dakota,” Nelson said. He asked the committee to consider a narrowly drawn allowance so residents working at Roughrider can continue to produce items for state purchasers while avoiding unfair competition with private businesses.

Roughrider Director Rick Gardner described the corrections industries program as a rehabilitation and…