The Department of Human Services shall provide services to those public or private agencies, which meet the standards set forth in this act, to operate shelters for victims of domestic violence. Priority for the allocation of services shall be to viable, existing programs which have successfully performed the delivery of shelter and other services to victims of domestic violence prior to the effective date of this act.

L.1979, c. 337, s. 3, eff. Jan. 22, 1980.