(a) As used in this section, (1) “personal protective equipment” means specialized clothing or equipment worn for protection against infectious disease, including, but not limited to, protective equipment for the eyes, face, head and extremities, protective clothing and protective shields and barriers, (2) “COVID-19” means the respiratory disease designated by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus 2019, and any related mutation thereof recognized by the World Health Organization as a communicable respiratory disease, and (3) “state agency” means any office, department, board, council, commission, institution, constituent unit of the state system of higher education, technical education and career school or other agency in the executive, legislative or judicial branch of state government.

(b) Not later than October 1, 2021, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall (1) compile, and thereafter periodically update, a list of companies domiciled in this state that during the public health and civil preparedness emergencies declared by the Governor on March 10, 2020, under sections 19a-131a and 28-9 due to COVID-19 and any extension of such declarations, changed the company’s business model to produce personal protective equipment to respond to COVID-19, and (2) post such list on the Internet web site of the Department of Administrative Services. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, on and after August 1, 2021, any state agency purchasing personal protective equipment shall make reasonable efforts to purchase not less than twenty-five per cent of such personal protective equipment from companies on such list. The provisions of this subsection shall not apply if such equipment is not available for purchase from a company on such list or does not meet the requirements of the purchasing state agency.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to (1) require the purchase of personal protective equipment that is expired or that does not otherwise meet recognized industry standards, or (2) waive any applicable competitive bidding requirements for purchases of personal protective equipment.

(d) Not later than July 31, 2021, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Administrative Services shall submit a report, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce and appropriations and the budgets of state agencies. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to, the most recent list compiled under subsection (b) of this section.