(a) As to all presently existing public buildings and capital improvements within the Capitol Zoning District, as zoned by § 22-3-302(a), any person or entity responsible for the custody, management, maintenance, repair, operation, or landscaping of such public buildings and capital improvements and their grounds shall be accountable to the Building Authority Division as follows:
(1) The division shall approve all plans and expenditures for alterations, repairs, maintenance, operation, management, landscaping, and provisions of utilities of and for the buildings, improvements, and grounds;
(2) The division shall establish and enforce minimum standards and criteria for the maintenance, management, and operation of the buildings, improvements, and grounds, including the establishment of maintenance schedules; and
(3) The division shall approve the purchase or rental of equipment and supplies for use in the management, maintenance, operation, repair, and landscaping of the buildings, improvements, and grounds.
(b) The Secretary of State shall remain as custodian of the State Capitol Building and the grounds immediately surrounding the State Capitol Building upon which the State Capitol Building is located. The Secretary of State, except as may otherwise be provided by law, shall have full responsibility for the maintenance, management, and operation of the building and its grounds, including the grounds commonly known as the “Mall Area” to the west of the State Capitol Building and the Capitol Hill Building and adjacent parking areas thereto. The Secretary of State shall not be accountable to the division for such maintenance, management, and operation.
(c) To the extent necessary to carry out the provisions and intent of this section, all laws relating to the powers, duties, and responsibilities of persons or entities regarding the custody and management by those persons of all buildings and grounds within the confines of the Capitol Zoning District, except for the custody and management by the Secretary of State of the State Capitol Building and its immediate grounds as provided in subsection (b) of this section, are amended.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed as exempting public buildings and capital improvements located within the Capitol Zoning District from any other applicable provision of this chapter.