1. (a) The Commissioner of Public Health shall establish an Emergency Medical Services Equipment and Local System Development grant program. The program shall provide incentive grants for enhancing emergency medical services and equipment. The commissioner shall define the nature, description and systems designed for grant proposals.

2. (b) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to determine the entities eligible to receive grants under the grant program established pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. In determining eligibility, the commissioner shall consider:

   1. (1) The demonstrated need within the community; (2) the degree to which the proposal serves the emergency medical services system plan; and (3) the extent to which there is available adequate trained staff to carry out the proposal.

3. (c) The commissioner shall maintain a priority list of eligible proposals and shall establish a system setting the priority of grant funding. In establishing such a priority list and ranking system, the commissioner shall consider all relevant factors including, but not limited to:

   1. (1) The public health and safety; (2) the population affected; (3) the attainment of state emergency medical services goals and standards; and (4) consistency with the state plan for emergency medical services.
4. (d) The commissioner shall consult with the appropriate regional council by sending such council a copy of any grant proposal. The regional emergency medical services council shall review and comment upon any proposal. Each council shall indicate how the grant proposal addresses the regional emergency medical services plan established priorities. The commissioner shall consider the recommendation of the regional council when making a final grant determination.

(P.A. 98-195, S. 2.)