Whenever any of the products or services made, provided, or manufactured by individuals with disabilities under the direction or supervision of the Department of Adult Blind and Deaf of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind meet the requirements of any department, institution, or agency supported in whole or in part by the state as to quality and quantity, such products or services shall have preference, except over articles produced or manufactured by convicts in Alabama employed in industries operated or supervised by the Department of Corrections, and all departments, institutions, and agencies supported in whole or in part by the state are directed to purchase the products or services from the Department of Adult Blind and Deaf. All political subdivisions of the state are authorized to purchase articles or services made, provided, or manufactured by individuals with disabilities through the department in the same manner that the state and its agencies and institutions purchase them. A fair market price for all articles offered for sale pursuant to this chapter shall be determined by the board created in Section 21-2-3. The board shall also ensure services approved do not adversely impact services provided under the Randolph-Sheppard Act of 1936, 20 U.S.C. 107 et seq., a vendor program for the hiring of individuals who are blind for the operation of vending facilities on state and federal property, as administered by the Department of Rehabilitation Services.
Last modified: May 3, 2021