(a) The board shall establish and administer the energy impacted county roads program as provided by this chapter. Applications for a grant under the program shall be made on forms prescribed by and subject to rules promulgated by the board. Grants may be made by the board for energy impacted county road projects.
(b) The board may award grants to stockpile material for energy impacted county roads.
(c) In awarding grants, the board shall consider the following:
(i) Whether the county's total proposed energy impacted road projects exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the average total annual county expenditures for its road and bridge maintenance and construction expenditures for the preceding five (5) years;
(ii) Whether the county has demonstrated that it has pursued alternative methods of funding including cost sharing from private sources;
(iii) That the funds will not supplant existing funding levels from traditional sources.
(d) After review of the applications the board shall as soon as practical notify the counties of its determination. Energy impacted counties shall remain eligible for grants under the program until the county no longer qualifies under subsection (c) of this section.
(e) Each application submitted to the board under the program shall contain only one (1) proposed energy impacted county road project.
(f) No one county may be eligible to receive an amount in excess of forty percent (40%) of the total funds available at the beginning of the state's fiscal year, without unanimous approval of the board.
(g) Upon completion of the projects, the county shall report the expenditures of all funds.
(h) The legislature may define, specify, authorize or limit the counties or areas within the state eligible for this program and the amounts of distribution.
(j) Funds from this appropriation shall not be used to hire more county employees.
