(a) So that the State of Georgia may effectively and responsibly implement its state airport system plan, after September 30, 1977, all applications to an agency of the United States for funds to improve or develop an airport not regularly served by an air carrier operating under a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the Civil Aeronautics Board or any successor agency of the United States government or owned and operated by the United States government shall be submitted to the department for review and comment prior to being submitted to the federal agency. No such application shall be submitted to the federal agency without first having been reviewed and commented on by the department. The department shall act on each application within 90 days after the receipt of the application. Applications submitted to the Federal Aviation Agency prior to September 30, 1977, shall not be subject to the provisions of this Code section.

(b) The department is authorized, when requested by the owner or operator of any airport for which federal funds are or will be sought for the improvement or development of the airport, to provide such assistance to the owner or operator of the airport as may be necessary to prepare the application for such funds and to complete the project for which such funds are requested.

(c) In order to effectuate and enforce this Code section, the department is authorized to promulgate necessary rules and regulations and to prescribe conditions and procedures in order to assure compliance in carrying out the purposes of this Code section.

(d) Funds appropriated to the department pursuant to Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(b) of the Constitution of Georgia may not be utilized for any of the purposes set out in this Code section.