(1) For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the meanings hereinafter ascribed:

(a) “Department” means the Department of Finance and Administration, Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management.

(b) “Public facility” means any building or other facility owned by the State of Mississippi, or by any agency, department of the State of Mississippi, that is occupied, used or under the control of the State of Mississippi, or any agency or department of the State of Mississippi, or any junior college district of the State of Mississippi, or the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi, or any institution under the jurisdiction of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning of the State of Mississippi.

(2) Any public facility newly constructed from and after July 1, 2006, shall comply with and be built according to specifications not less stringent than those required by the International Code Council and such other standards as adopted by the department that provide guidelines for plumbing, electrical, gas, sanitary and other physical components of new building construction.

(3) Upon the awarding of a design contract for a new public facility, the architect/engineer shall prepare drawings and specifications in conformity with the code requirements in effect at the time of agreement or, if the code requirements at the time of the agreement are amended, then the drawings and specifications shall be prepared according to the more stringent standards.

(4) The department may regulate the height, number of stories and size of public facilities, the percentage of the lot that may be occupied, courts and other open spaces, and the location and use of public facilities.