There is established the "Priority Social Services Program." This program shall provide certain priority social services, with an emphasis placed on the development of human services in rural areas of Maine, to residents of the State by encouraging and assisting qualified community, regional and state level, private nonprofit and public nonstate government social agencies to develop greater capacity, to foster the development and provision of priority social services programs by entering into coordinated, cooperative agreements between the State of Maine and such agencies. The program shall begin effective July 1, 1973, except that prior to that date the Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to perform, within the limits of available funds, any and all actions necessary to initiate a properly administered program.   [P&SL 1975, c. 90, §§SEC.C,3 (AMD); PL 1975, c. 293, §4 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).]