A. The officer shall administer the provisions of the Cultural Properties Protection Act and shall adopt rules, regulations and criteria for reviewing and awarding grants as necessary to carry out the provisions of that act.

B. Rules and regulations shall include:

(1)     the method to be used to determine the eligibility of a state agency to receive grants from the fund;

(2)     a procedure for application, approval and rejection of grant proposals;

(3)     a requirement that an interpretation, restoration, preservation, stabilization or protection project be undertaken in accordance with specifications approved by the officer; and

(4)     a requirement that a cultural property assisted by a grant be preserved and protected for a specified period of time, but in no case less than ten years.

C. Criteria for reviewing and awarding grants shall include the:

(1)     degree of physical damage or deterioration of the cultural property;

(2)     special status of the cultural property, including whether the property is listed on a national, state or local register of historic places; and

(3)     suitability of the cultural property for interpretation.

D. At least annually, the officer, in consultation with the committee and with the approval of the officials having jurisdiction over cultural properties being considered, shall select:

(1)     cultural properties to be restored, preserved, stabilized and protected; and

(2)     programs for interpretation.

E. The officer may contract with state agencies, architectural and engineering firms, private nonprofit organizations or individuals for interpretation, restoration, preservation, stabilization and protection.