For purposes of the provisions of the Public Competitive Bidding Act of 1974, contracts not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) entered into by the Department of Environmental Quality for engineering services to assist qualifying small municipalities or rural water or sewer districts with engineering reports or plans and specifications needed for construction or repairs to achieve compliance with federal and state public water supply or wastewater laws and regulations shall not be considered public construction contracts and shall not be required to be open for competitive bidding.

Laws 2009, SB 551, c. 273, § 1 (expires July 1, 2011 - Laws 2009, SB 551, c. 273, § 5).