Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1813, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2001, c. 529, §1, is further amended to read:

6. Surplus property. Providing for transfer of supplies, materials and equipment that are surplus from one state department or agency to another that may need them, and for the disposal by private and public sale of supplies, materials and equipment that are obsolete and unusable. Political subdivisions, educational institutions, fire departments or qualifying nonprofit organizations, as defined in section 1813-A, must be given an opportunity to purchase the surplus items through private sale. If 2 or more political subdivisions, educational institutions, fire departments or qualifying nonprofit organizations are interested in any item, the sale must be the result of competitive bid. Any equipment so purchased must be retained for a period of at least one year in a current ongoing program. Any item purchased by a political subdivision, educational institution, fire department or qualifying nonprofit organization under this section may not be sold or transferred by that political subdivision, educational institution, fire department or qualifying nonprofit organization for a period of 6 months from the date of the private sale and the , except that a qualifying nonprofit organization that contracts with the Department of Human Services to provide vehicles to low-income families may resell a vehicle purchased in the private sale to a low-income family to assist it in participating in work, education or training pursuant to the qualifying nonprofit organization's contract with the Department of Human Services.__ The State reserves the right to refuse to sell additional equipment to a political subdivision, educational institution, fire department or qualifying nonprofit organization if it is determined that the political subdivision, educational institution, fire department or qualifying nonprofit organization has not retained the equipment for the required period of 6 months;

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §1813-A, sub-§1, śC, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 418, §3, is amended to read:

C. "Qualifying nonprofit organization" means a public or private nonprofit entity that owns or operates a project or facility for the homeless or; a nonprofit organization that has been determined to be exempt from taxation under the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 501 (c) and that provides services to persons with physical or mental handicaps as defined in section 4553, subsection 7-A; or a nonprofit organization that has been determined to be exempt from taxation under the United States Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c) and that contracts with the Department of