(1) Subject to available appropriations, the department shall enter into fee-for-service contracts for the following purposes:
(a) The creation of career pathways for students pursuant to sections 23-60-109 and 24-46.3-104;
(b) The inclusive higher education pilot program pursuant to section 23-75-104; and
(c) Cybersecurity and distributed ledger technologies, such as blockchains, as set forth in sections 24-33.5-1904 and 24-33.5-1905.
(2) Notwithstanding any provision of this part 3 to the contrary, the amount of a fee-for-service contract entered into pursuant to this section is not included in the calculation of "total state appropriation" or "total governing board appropriation" made pursuant to this part 3.