(a) As used in this section, “environmentally preferable” means, with regard to products, services or practices, that such products, services or practices have a lesser or reduced negative effect on human health and the environment when compared to competing products, services or practices that serve the same function. “Environmentally preferable products” includes both recycled and recyclable products.

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(b) Within available appropriations, the Department of Administrative Services shall establish procedures that promote, to the greatest extent feasible, the procurement and use of recycled products and environmentally preferable products, services, and practices by state agencies. The department shall: (1) Designate environmentally preferable products, taking into consideration the raw materials acquisition, production, manufacturing, packaging, distribution, reuse, operation, maintenance or disposal aspects of such products, and establish minimum standards and specifications for their procurement and use; (2) when feasible, include the use of environmentally preferable products and services as a criteria in a multiple criteria bid or an evaluation factor in requests for proposals; and (3) consider the use of environmentally preferable business practices when reviewing the overall performance of a bidder or proposer‘s business operation. Such procedures shall not be considered regulations, as defined in section 4-166.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2005, and annually thereafter, the department shall: (1) Develop and maintain information about environmentally preferable products, services and practices procured through the department, including, but not limited to, products, services and practices that minimize global warming impact and recycled products; (2) provide assistance with the implementation of the procedures developed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section and provide information to agencies about the use of environmentally preferable products and services; and (3) monitor the use of environmentally preferable products, services and practices and recycled products by state agencies. Such information compiled pursuant to this subsection shall designate those products, services or practices that cost the same as or less than other similar products, services or practices.