(a) The state agency for surplus property is hereby authorized and empowered (1) to acquire from the United States of America such property, including equipment, materials, books or other supplies under the control of any department or agency of the United States of America as may be usable and necessary for educational, fire protection and prevention, rescue, or public health purposes, including research; (2) to warehouse property acquired; and (3) to distribute the property to tax-supported medical institutions, hospitals, clinics, fire departments, rescue squads, health centers, school systems, schools, colleges and universities within the state, and to other nonprofit medical institutions, hospitals, clinics, volunteer fire departments, volunteer rescue squads, health centers, schools, colleges and universities within the state which have been held exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(b) For the purpose of executing its authority under this article, the state agency for surplus property is authorized and empowered to adopt, amend or rescind rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary, and take other action necessary and suitable in the administration of this article, including the enactment and promulgation of rules and regulations necessary to bring this article and its administration into conformity with any federal statutes or rules and regulations promulgated under federal statutes for the acquisition and disposition of surplus property.

(c) The state agency for surplus property is authorized and empowered to appoint advisory boards or committees necessary to the end that this article and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder conform with federal statutes and rules and regulations promulgated under federal statutes for the acquisition and disposition of surplus property.

(d) The state agency for surplus property is authorized and empowered to take action, make expenditures and enter into contracts, agreements and undertakings for and in the name of the state, require reports, and make investigations as may be required by law or regulation of the United States of America in connection with the receipt, warehousing and distribution of property received by the state agency for surplus property from the United States of America.

(e) The state agency for surplus property is authorized and empowered to act as a clearinghouse of information for the public and private nonprofit institutions and agencies referred to in subsection (a) of this section, to locate property available for acquisition from the United States of America, to ascertain the terms and conditions under which the property may be obtained, to receive requests from the above-mentioned institutions and agencies and to transmit to them all available information in reference to the property, and to aid and assist the institutions and agencies in every way possible in the consummation or acquisition of transactions hereunder.

(f) The state agency for surplus property shall cooperate to the fullest extent consistent with the provisions of this article, with the departments or agencies of the United States of America and shall make reports in the form and containing the information the United States of America or any of its departments or agencies may from time to time require, and it shall comply with the laws of the United States of America and the rules and regulations of any of the departments or agencies of the United States of America governing the allocation, transfer, use or accounting for property donable or donated to the state.