The department may establish and operate workshops for the training, habilitation, and rehabilitation of residents of institutions of the department. Products, goods, wares, articles, or merchandise manufactured or produced by the workshops may be sold to governmental agencies or on the open market at fair value. Prior to establishment of new state-operated workshops at institutions, the department shall consider the availability, appropriateness, and relative cost of contracting with and giving first preference to private nonprofit sheltered workshops, as defined in RCW 82.04.385, to provide workshop activities for residents of the institution.

The secretary shall credit the moneys derived from the sale of items from workshops under this section to a revolving fund under the control of the superintendent of the institution or facility where the items were manufactured. These moneys shall be expended for the purchase of supplies and materials for use in the workshop, to provide pay and training incentives for residents, and for other costs of the operation of the workshop. Payment of residents for work performed on workshop projects shall take into account resident productivity in comparison to the productivity of a nondisabled person earning the minimum wage as well as other factors consistent with goals of rehabilitation and treatment. Institutional work training programs shall be operated in accordance with standards required by the department for private vendors for the same or similar service.

Workshop materials and supplies may be purchased through state purchasing or from private vendors. Each institution or facility shall maintain records to demonstrate that purchases are made at the fair market value or best available price.

Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.