(a) The department may, when funds are available from the United States government for such purposes, provide financial assistance with such funds, or such funds and state general funds appropriated for these purposes, to private nonprofit corporations and associations for the specific purpose of assisting them in providing transportation services meeting the special needs of the elderly or persons with disabilities, or both, for whom the department determines that the mass transportation services planned, designed, and carried out by local public bodies, agencies, and authorities are unavailable, insufficient, or inappropriate. Such financial assistance shall be subject to those terms, conditions, requirements, and restrictions as the department determines to be necessary or appropriate in order to carry out the purposes of this Code section.

(b) 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.