The state is authorized to make grants, as funds are available, to hospital authorities and rural hospital organizations for public health purposes, provided that any funds so granted shall be distributed to and among the various public hospital authorities and rural hospital organizations in the state in proportion to the number of hospital beds operated by each such hospital authority or rural hospital organization at the end of the calendar year preceding the grant. Funds shall be distributed to public hospitals and rural hospital organizations operated by consolidated governments in the same manner as to authority hospitals prescribed in this Code section and rural hospital organizations. Grants made by the state pursuant to this Code section shall be administered by the Department of Community Health in accordance with Code Section 31-7-94.1 and such rules, regulations, and procedures as it shall deem necessary for effective administration of such grants.
OCGA § 31-7-94