(a) The board of trustees shall have the authority to grant to qualified students such scholarships as available funds allow. The board of trustees shall establish rules and regulations governing the eligibility for and awarding of such scholarships; provided, however, that all such scholarships which are funded by money appropriated by the General Assembly of Georgia shall be granted only to qualified students who are citizens and bona fide residents of this state and shall be apportioned on an equal basis by congressional district.

(b) The funds necessary to provide for the program of scholarships authorized by this Code section shall come from funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the board of trustees for such purposes; provided, however, that nothing in this Code section shall be construed to require the General Assembly to appropriate any such funds.