(a) The industries shall be state institutions under the direction and supervision of the Department of Labor.

(b) The Department of Labor is authorized to provide the property necessary for the industries. The Department of Labor may acquire real property through the State Properties Commission pursuant to Code Section 50-16-38 or the department may enter into rental agreements in order to acquire the needed space. The acquisition of such property is not deemed to be "administrative space" within the meaning of Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 50, the "State Space Management Act of 1976."