To: Dale K. Weighill, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Barbara A. Menear, Circuit Court Administrator
title
RE: Request to enter into a contract with West Publishing Corporation (dba, West, a Thomson Reuters business) for electronic legal research and related products.
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Approve Contract with West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters) for electronic legal research and related products.
BACKGROUND:
In June 2019, the Circuit Court received authorization to enter into a contract with West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters) to provide electronic legal research for county employees (RESO 19-987). This contract will expire on June 30, 2024.
Electronic legal research is used by judges, judicial law clerks and all other Genesee County employees who are attorneys. The Circuit Court historically managed the contract for convenience and one-point of contact with the vendor.
DISCUSSION:
The State of Michigan has a MiDEAL contract #C20000000622 with West Publishing, Corporation (Thomson Reuters). Under this agreement, local units of government may enter into contracts with West Publishing and take advantage of state negotiated pricing. This agenda item seeks to take advantage of the MiDeal option.
A team including courts, prosecutor and public defender was established to review the catalogue of electronic legal research options. This request is to approve a contract that satisfies the requirements of all courts and departments for electronic legal research.
An additional research option referred to as CLEAR is part of this request for a limited number of non-attorney subscribers as a “people locator” for enforcement of court orders. CLEAR has historically been provided for the same purpose, to the same users.
Limited hard copy legal publications are also necessary and subject to a discounted rate from this vendor. Courts and departments, with attorney staff members, work individually with this vendor based on customized needs.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
None
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
This request will establish one contract between Genesee County and West Publishing Corporation (Thomson Reuters) with management and payment based on subscriptions and materials required by participating court and county departments. Budget information is set forth below. No additional budget allocation is required.
One budget amendment is necessary to transfer $15,892.86 from account 2690-292.00-801.004 to account 1010-296.01-801.004 ($14,556.33-Prosecutor) and account 1010-294.00-801.004 ($1,336.53-Probate) for legal research subscriptions for the 4th quarter of FY2324.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
None
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
None
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
This request aligns with the county priority of promoting long term financial stability by taking advantage of the MiDEAL option. Courts and multiple county departments worked in a collaborative manner on this agenda item.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Circuit Court Administrator to authorize entering into the Electronic Legal Research contract between Genesee County and West Publishing Corporation (dba, West, a Thomson Reuters business), whereby electronic legal research subscriptions and materials are provided for the term commencing July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, at a cost to the County not to exceed $168,555.00 to be paid from the following accounts: 1010-296.01-801.004 ($51,261.00-Prosecutor), 2689-283.00-801.004 ($6,073.80-Legal Resource Center), 2690-292.00-801.004 ($6,073.80-Legal Resource Center), 2690-292.00-801.004 ($50,253.00-Courts), 2921-283.00-801.004 ($27,810.00-Public Defender), and 2690-292.00-801.004 ($27,083.40-Clear), is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the May 15, 2024 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the contract on behalf of Genesee County, and the Chief Financial Office is directed to make the necessary budget adjustments, as needed, to effectuate this resolution.