For the purpose of providing blind persons with remunerative employment, enlarging the economic opportunities of the blind, and stimulating the blind to greater efforts in striving to make themselves self-supporting, blind persons licensed under this article shall be authorized to operate vending facilities on any property within this state as provided in this article. In order to administer this article, the director shall establish and promote the Business Enterprises Program for the Blind.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. § 107 et. seq.), and the federal regulations for its administration set forth in Part 395 (commencing with Section 395.1) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, shall serve as minimum standards for the operation of the Business Enterprises Program for the Blind.

(a) With respect to vending facilities on state property, priority shall be given to blind persons, including the assignment of vending machine income as provided in this article. As used in this article, “state property” means all real property, or part thereof, owned, leased, rented, or otherwise controlled or occupied by any department or other agency or body of this state.

(b) With respect to vending on federal property within this state, priority shall be given as provided in the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act (20 U.S.C. § 107 et seq.), including the amendments thereto. This article, as it applies to federal property, is intended to conform to that act and is to be of no force or effect if, and to the extent that, any provision of this article or any regulation adopted under this article is in conflict with that act. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to impose limitations on the operation of vending facilities on state property, or property other than federal property, or to allow only those activities specifically enumerated in the Randolph-Sheppard Act.

(c) On all other property within this state, whether owned or controlled privately or by any county, city, city and county, or other political subdivision, the department shall take all feasible steps to encourage and establish vending by blind persons licensed under this article. The department may enter into appropriate agreements with the entities or persons owning or controlling the other property. All these agreements shall be in writing and shall be in conformity with this article.

(d) The director shall actively pursue all commissions from vending facilities not operated by blind vendors as provided for in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 19630, and shall seek new placements of vending facilities on state property where a facility is not yet in place.

(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1316, Sec. 1.)