Sec. 11.1. (a) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this chapter or IC 5-16-1 concerning the awarding of contracts, if a project is for the rehabilitation, extension, maintenance, construction or repair of any structure, improvement or facility under the control of the department of correction, the department may purchase materials for that project in the manner provided by law and use, without awarding a contract, its inmates to perform the labor and use its own employees for supervisory purposes if:
(1) they use equipment owned or leased by that department; and
(2) the cost of the project using employee or inmate labor is estimated by the department of administration to be less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000).
(b) All projects covered by this section must comply with the remaining provisions of this chapter, and all plans and specifications must be approved by a licensed architect or engineer as required by law.