(a) The local health officers of two or more counties may join together as a region to apply for a Local Public Health Tobacco Grant.

(b) The amount of the Local Public Health Tobacco Grant that is distributed to a region under subsection (a) of this section shall be equal to the sum of the Local Public Health Tobacco Grants that otherwise would have been distributed to each county under § 13-1007 of this subtitle.

(c) If the local health officers of two or more counties join together as a region to apply for a Local Public Health Tobacco Grant, the local health officers shall act jointly to:

(1) Develop a Comprehensive Plan for Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation, as required under § 13-1008 of this subtitle;

(2) Establish a Community Health Coalition, as required under § 13-1008 of this subtitle, or identify another coalition approved by the Department;

(3) Demonstrate that the base-year funding requirement of § 13-1011 of this subtitle has been met; and

(4) Otherwise satisfy the requirements of §§ 13-1006 through 13-1012 of this subtitle.