A. On or after July 1, 2022, the department shall receive and review applications for grants from the violence intervention program fund. The department may make grants from the fund to state agencies, counties, municipalities or tribal governments that the department finds are disproportionately impacted by violent crimes, including homicides, shootings and aggravated assaults.

B. The department shall make awards of grants from the fund in accordance with the following limitations:

(1)     grant awards shall be made to at least two counties, municipalities or tribal governments with a population of fifty thousand or less according to the most recent annual university of New Mexico intercensal population estimate;

(2)     at least twenty percent of the total annual amount appropriated to the fund shall be awarded to counties or municipalities with a population of five hundred forty thousand or greater according to the most recent federal decennial census; and

(3)     the department of health shall utilize the funds in accordance with department of finance and administration guidelines.