No less developed county shall be eligible to receive a grant pursuant to this article until a local plan has been submitted. The commissioner shall provide by rule or regulation for the submission of local plans and the administration of grant applications and shall establish criteria for the types of facilities which would qualify for a grant under this article; provided, however, that such criteria shall realistically reflect the diverse facility needs of the various less developed counties for economic development. The commissioner shall submit such criteria to the General Assembly at the next regular session following July 1, 1991, and such criteria shall become effective only when ratified by joint resolution of the General Assembly. The power of the commissioner to promulgate such criteria shall be deemed to be dependent upon such ratification.