(a) As used in this Code section, the term "person" includes natural persons, firms, partnerships, corporations, or associations.

(b) It shall be unlawful for any employee or official of the state or any other person to purchase, directly or indirectly, through the authority any article, material, merchandise, ware, commodity, or other thing of value for the personal or individual ownership of himself or herself or other person or persons. All articles, materials, merchandise, wares, commodities, or other things of value purchased, directly or indirectly, by or through the authority shall be and remain the property of the state until sold or disposed of by the state in accordance with the laws governing the disposition or sale of other state property.

(c) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to sell or deliver any article, material, merchandise, ware, commodity, or other thing of value to any person, directly or indirectly, by or through the authority for the individual and personal ownership of such person or other person or persons except that property of the state may be sold or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the laws governing the sale or other disposition of state property.

(d) Any person who violates any provision of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(e) This Code section shall not apply to any official employee purchase program for personal computing and computer related equipment facilitated by and through the authority for state employees and public school employees of county or independent boards of education.