1. Small community air service. To promote essential air service, the Department of Transportation may administer a program of subsidies to qualified air carriers, patterned after the federal essential air service program, to ensure that small communities have adequate levels of service. This program must take into consideration a minimum round trip and minimum seating criteria for each eligible point to destinations within the State that provide access into the national air transportation system.

2. Eligibility requirements. To be eligible for subsidy, an air carrier must be certified by the Federal Aviation Administration to provide scheduled air service to the eligible point and must demonstrate a need for subsidy. The eligible point must be currently served by no more than one air carrier providing scheduled service.

3. Subsidies. The cost of air service subsidies must be allocated between the State and the community desiring to receive new service, with the State providing the percentage of the subsidy for which funds are available and the community providing the balance of the subsidy.

4. Adoption of rules. The Department of Transportation shall promulgate rules necessary to administer this section. The rules must establish the formula for reimbursement and application requirements.