Sec. 116.5. Approval

(a) The Chief Administrator shall select centers for funding pursuant to this Part and shall determine the amount of funds to be disbursed for each center within available appropriations.

(b) No funds provided by the State shall be disbursed for any center in an amount greater than 50 per centum of the estimated annual cost of operating the program as determined by the Chief Administrator.

(c) In determining the centers for which funds may be disbursed, the Chief Administrator shall consider:

(1) the need for the program in that geographical area;

(2) the structure and scope of the proposed program;

(3) the cost of operation;

(4) the availability of sources of funding;

(5) the adequacy and cost of facilities;

(6) the ability of the applicant to administer the program;

(7) the qualifications of the personnel staffing the center;

(8) the effectiveness of the program; and

(9) any other consideration which may affect the provision of dispute resolution services pursuant to this Part.

(d) A center may be rejected if the Chief Administrator determines that it will be unable to comply with any of the conditions set forth in section 114.3 of this Subchapter.

(e) Nothing herein shall require the Chief Administrator to approve funding for any applicant.