(1) The State of Mississippi does hereby accept and avail itself of all the provisions and benefits of acts passed by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled on June 4, 1946, known as the “National School Lunch Act,” Chapter 281, 60 Stat 230, and on October 11, 1966, known as the “Child Nutrition Act,” 80 Stat 885.

(2) The State Department of Education is hereby designated and appointed as the state agency in Mississippi to carry out and execute the functions and duties required of a state agency under the terms and provisions of said acts and to administer the funds made available by the federal government for the school lunch and other child nutrition programs for and in the State of Mississippi under the provisions of said acts. For such purpose, the State Superintendent of Public Education is hereby authorized and empowered to do any and all things which may be required under the terms of said acts to enable the State of Mississippi to receive the benefits thereof, to enter into any and all agreements and contracts with any officer or agency of the United States of America, or any other person, agency or political subdivision, that may be necessary, expedient or advisable in administering said acts, and to appoint and employ a state supervisor of the child nutrition programs and such other administrative, supervisory, stenographic and clerical personnel as may be necessary in the administration of said acts.

(3) The school boards of any combination of school districts may authorize by resolution the organization and operation of, or the participation in, a group purchase program with other participating child nutrition operators for the purchase of commodities, supplies, equipment and services provided under the school lunch and child nutrition programs, when it appears to said participating child nutrition operators that a group purchase program shall effect economy or efficiency in such operation. The State Department of Education may administer such group purchase program to provide commodities, supplies, equipment and services under the school lunch and child nutrition programs and may charge and collect reasonable fees from participating operators for the actual cost of administering such group purchase program. Purchases by participating operators in such group purchasing programs shall not be exempt from public bid requirements as prescribed in Sections 31-7-12 and 31-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972.

(4) The State Treasurer is hereby designated and appointed custodian of all monies received by the state from appropriations made to carry out the provisions of said acts of Congress, and he is authorized to receive and to provide for the proper custody of same, and to make disbursements thereof in the manner provided for in said acts and for the purposes therein specified.