(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Lease” means obtaining the use of a motor vehicle from any source for a monetary fee, for a period of thirty-one (31) days or more;
(2) “Rental” means obtaining the use of a motor vehicle from any source for a monetary fee for a period of thirty (30) days or less; and
(3) “State agency” means the same as defined in § 19-11-203.
(b)
(1) Before any state agency leases any motor vehicle or renews any existing lease for a motor vehicle, the state agency shall submit a written request to the State Procurement Director identifying the motor vehicles sought to be leased by the state agency and all facts and circumstances the director may request to enable him or her to determine the economics, need, and feasibility of leasing the motor vehicle.
(2) Upon receipt, the director shall review the request to lease the motor vehicle, and if he or she determines that the lease is in the best interest of the State of Arkansas and that the state agency has adequate funds to pay the lease, he or she may approve the request but only if the proposed lease has been reviewed by the Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is in session, the Joint Budget Committee.
(3) If, after the Legislative Council or the Joint Budget Committee has reviewed the proposed lease of the motor vehicle, the director approves the proposed lease of the motor vehicle, the director shall stamp his or her approval on the request and return it to the state agency, which may proceed to enter into the lease as proposed and approved by the director.
(c) If the director disapproves a proposed lease of a motor vehicle, he or she shall stamp his or her disapproval on the request and return it to the state agency, and it shall be unlawful for the state agency to proceed to lease the motor vehicle.
(d) If federal assistance requirements or federal contract requirements conflict with this section, this section shall not prevent a state agency from complying with the terms and conditions of the federal assistance requirements or the federal contract requirements.
(e) It is a violation of state procurement laws, Arkansas Code Title 19, Chapter 11, for a state agency official to conduct multiple rentals of a motor vehicle to avoid the approval and review requirements of this section.