(a) The sums provided for in Code Section 15-21-131 shall be assessed and collected by the court officer charged with the duty of collecting moneys arising from fines and shall be paid over on a monthly basis as follows:

(1) If the county where the fine was imposed operates or participates in a victim assistance program approved by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, then the moneys shall be paid over to that victim assistance program; or

(2) If the county where the fine was imposed does not operate or participate in a victim assistance program approved by the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, then the moneys shall be paid over to the district attorney of the judicial circuit in which the county is located for the purpose of defraying the costs of victim assistance activities carried out by the district attorney's office. Such funds shall be paid over in the same manner as other county funds paid for operations of the district attorney's office and shall be in addition to rather than in lieu of any other such funds.

(a.1) The court officer charged with the duty of collecting moneys arising from fines pursuant to this Code section and Code Section 15-21-133 is required to submit to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council a monthly financial report which states the amount collected and the agencies, organizations, or programs which directly received funds in that same period from said officer in order to allow coordination of local, state, and federal funding sources for similar services.

(b) The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council shall promulgate rules governing the approval of victim assistance programs. The rules shall provide for the approval of programs which are designed to provide substantial assistance to victims of crime in understanding and dealing with the criminal justice system as it relates to the crimes committed against them. It is the intention of the General Assembly that approval shall be liberally granted so as to encourage local innovations in the development of victim assistance programs.