In awarding grants for primary prevention programs, the office:

(a) May, in order to achieve economies of scale, designate service areas for grants that include more than one county. Should acceptable applicants from more than one county in such a multicounty service area submit proposals, the office may separate the area into as many counties for service delivery as is appropriate. The office may also designate more than one service area in large counties and counties with large school-age populations.

(b) Shall award grants only to those qualified applicants set forth below and in the following order of priority:

(1) Private, nonprofit, and public primary prevention programs with experience in the county to be served that meet the requirements of Sections 18975.7 and 18976 by October 1, 1984.

(2) Private, nonprofit, community organizations based in the county to be served.

(3) Public institutions based in counties which do not have qualified organizations as defined in paragraphs (1) and (2).

(4) Private, nonprofit community organizations in adjacent counties.

(5) Public institutions based in adjacent counties.

(Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 134, Sec. 11. Effective July 1, 1985.)