CEO 75-57 -- March 31, 1975

PURCHASING AGENT

STATUS OF SCHOOL PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER BOTH OF WHOM UNILATERALLY AUTHORIZE PURCHASES

To: Dale A. Beardsley, Orange Park

Prepared by: Gene L. "Hal" Johnson

QUESTION:

Is a school principal or a county school district assistant finance officer and purchasing agent, either of whom can unilaterally authorize purchases in excess of $1,000, a purchasing agent within the meaning of s. 112.312(7)(j), F. S., as amended by Ch. 74-177, Laws of Florida, and thus subject to the disclosure provisions required of a public officer?

SUMMARY:

Reference is made to CEO 74-81. One of the principal characteristics of a purchasing agent is the power to prepare and sign purchase orders. A school principal and an assistant finance officer with this power are "purchasing agents" within the meaning of that term as found in s. 112.312(7)(j), F. S. (1974 Supp.), and are therefore "public officers" subject to applicable disclosure requirements.

Your question is answered in the affirmative in both instances.

Please find enclosed a copy of a previous opinion of this commission, CEO 74-81, wherein we concluded that one of the principal characteristics of a purchasing agent is the power to prepare and sign purchase orders. The school principal's and the assistant finance officer and purchasing agent's powers to unilaterally authorize purchases also include this power to prepare and sign purchase orders.

We therefore conclude that these individuals fall within the meaning of the term "purchasing agent" as defined in s. 112.312(7)(j), supra, and thereby are subject to the disclosure provisions of part III, Ch. 112, F. S., as amended by Ch. 74-177, Laws of Florida, as applied to public officers.