(a)
(1) The General Assembly finds:
(A) The expansion of state government makes it one of the state's leading purchasers of lighting commodities;
(B) Recent technological developments have produced energy-efficient devices that reduce energy costs through a reduction in energy usage; and
(C) Prudent use of taxpayer dollars dictates that the State of Arkansas should be at the forefront of implementing energy-efficient devices in facilities operated with public funds.
(2) The intent of this section is to promote the use of high efficiency lighting in facilities operated with public funds when feasible.
(b) As used in this section:
(1)
(A) “Fluorescent lamp” means a gas-discharge lamp that:
(i) Utilizes a magnetic, electronic, or other ballast; and
(ii) Uses electricity to excite mercury vapor in argon or neon gas resulting in a plasma that produces short-wave ultraviolet light that causes a phosphor to fluoresce and produce visible light.
(B) “Fluorescent lamp” includes without limitation a compact fluorescent lamp;
(2) “High efficiency lighting” means fluorescent lamp or solid state lighting;
(3) “Solid state lighting” means a light device that utilizes light-emitting diodes, organic light-emitting diodes, or polymer light-emitting diodes as sources of illumination rather than electrical filaments or gas; and
(4)
(A) “State agency” means any agency, institution, authority, department, board, commission, bureau, council, or other agency of the state supported by appropriation of state or federal funds.
(B) “State agency” includes the constitutional departments of the state, the elected constitutional offices of the state, the General Assembly, including the Legislative Council and the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee and supporting agencies and bureaus thereof, the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, circuit courts, prosecuting attorneys, and the Administrative Office of the Courts.
(c) Whenever a state agency purchases or requires a bid for the purchase of an indoor lamp, a preference for high efficiency lighting shall be exercised if the use of high efficiency lighting is technically feasible and the price is competitive with consideration given to the long-term cost effectiveness and savings of high efficiency lighting.
(d)
(1) The goal of state agencies for the percentage of purchased indoor lamps that are high efficiency lighting shall be one hundred percent (100%) by January 1, 2008.
(2) The Office of State Procurement shall prepare an annual report to the Legislative Council of the state's progress in meeting the goals for the purchase of high efficiency lighting.