(1) Section 30-14-901 may not be construed to prevent a cooperative association from returning to its members, producers, or consumers, in proportion to their purchases or sales from, to, or through the association, all or any part of the net earnings or surplus resulting from its trading operations.
(2) Section 30-14-901 does not apply to the purchase of supplies for its own use by a school, college, university, public library, church, hospital, or charitable institution not operated for profit.