(a) The department may establish a program to award grants to initiate, expand, maintain, and improve voluntary perinatal health care systems.
(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 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 need for emergency transportation of perinatal patients and the extent to which the system meets the identified needs; and
(6) the stage of development of a perinatal health care system.

(c) The department may approve grants according to rules adopted by the executive commissioner. A grant awarded under this section is governed by Chapter 783, Government Code, and rules adopted under that chapter.