(a) The department shall establish a program to award grants to initiate, expand, maintain, and improve emergency medical services and to support medical systems and facilities that provide trauma care.
(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall establish eligibility criteria for awarding the grants. The rules must require the department to consider:
(1) the need of an area for the provision of emergency medical services or trauma care and the extent to which the grant would meet the identified need;
(2) the availability of personnel and training programs;
(3) the availability of other funding sources;
(4) the assurance of providing quality services;
(5) the use or acquisition of helicopters for emergency medical evacuation; and
(6) the development or existence of an emergency medical services system.
(c) The department may approve grants according to department rules. A grant awarded under this section is governed by Chapter 783, Government Code, and by the rules adopted under that chapter.
(d) The department may require a grantee to provide matching funds equal to not more than 75 percent of the amount of the grant.