(a) The Legislature of Alabama hereby finds and determines that the responsible stewardship of its state-owned and leased real property is a proper governmental function of the State of Alabama. The Legislature finds that costs for maintenance, construction, and leasing of real property in the state government comprise a significant portion of available resources. The Legislature also finds that as one of the largest owners and operators of buildings in Alabama, the state is a major consumer of energy. It is therefore the intent of Act 2015-435 to establish centralized management of real property through leasing administration, facilities maintenance and management, and construction management that consists of expanded duties in existing divisions, as well as newly established divisions, within the Department of Finance. In establishing this centralization, it is further the intent of the Legislature to establish comprehensive real property asset management practices to achieve immediate and long term cost savings and cost avoidance, to increase operational efficiency, to optimize opportunities to move from leased spaces to state-owned spaces, and to establish office space standards. The Legislature also intends to incorporate energy efficient practices and behaviors into daily and long term operations of state government which will preserve natural resources, conserve energy and water, and reduce waste.

(b) All real property owned or leased by state departments, boards, bureaus, commissions, agencies, offices and institutions shall be managed and supervised by the Department of Finance through centralized divisions. These centralized organizations shall be responsible for the management of facilities, the management of leasing of real property, the management of construction projects, space management and the management of energy efficiency efforts.