The Surplus Property Agent shall, under the supervision and direction of the Director of Public Affairs:

1. (1) Ascertain from the federal government through any of its agencies, any surplus property available for sale, lease, or donation either within or outside this state and shall notify the state departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and agencies, counties, cities, and towns, and school districts of the availability of such property as is deemed necessary according to the types and quantities of property available; and
2. (2) Secure from state departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and agencies and from counties, cities, and towns, and school districts, estimates of their needs for surplus property and keep federal agencies informed of such needs; and
3. (3) Purchase, or accept as gifts or donations, any surplus property for redistribution, by sale or donation to any state department, board, commission, institution, or agency and to counties, cities, or towns, and school districts, and provide for the care and handling, transportation, and warehousing of such property if necessary; and
4. (4) Distribute surplus property to state departments, boards, commissions, institutions, and agencies and to counties, cities, towns, school districts, and other entities authorized by the federal government to receive federal surplus property, provided, any such entity reimburses the Surplus Property Agent for the purchase price and expenses incurred in connection with acquiring, warehousing, and distributing such surplus property. A reasonable charge, the criteria for which shall be established by administrative rule, shall be charged to such departments, agencies, or municipalities or other eligible entities by such Surplus Property Agent for such acquiring, warehousing, distribution, and other administrative costs and expense; and
5. (5) The Surplus Property Agent, with the approval of the Director of Public Affairs, shall employ such employees and assistants as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of Sections 34.1 through 34.7 of this title; and
6. (6) Perform such other duties as are necessary for carrying out the purposes of Sections 34.1 through 34.7 of this title.

Laws 1947, HB 41, p. 619, § 3, emerg. eff. May 8, 1947; Amended by Laws 1983, SB 305, c. 304, § 162, emerg. eff. July 1, 1983; Amended by Laws 1989, HB 1065, c. 300, § 20, emerg. eff. May 25, 1989.