(a)      (1)      The State Administration shall establish and implement and, as necessary, modify a program of general public assistance to needy pregnant women who are not eligible for any other State or federal category of direct cash assistance payments.

            (2)      The program shall provide State funded assistance payments to women residents of this State who require assistance between the time the pregnancy is medically verified and the sixth month of pregnancy.

            (3)      The program shall be known as general public assistance for pregnant women.

      (b)      (1)      In order to be eligible for assistance under this subtitle a woman shall provide in writing medical verification of pregnancy and verification of participation in a prenatal care program.

            (2)      The Administration may not consider monetary or in-kind contributions that are up to the difference between the State's standard of need and the sum of the total grant and the amount of food stamps, whether received on a onetime or continuing basis, as income or as a potential resource in determining:

                  (i)      An individual's eligibility for assistance; or

                  (ii)      The amount of assistance that an individual receives.

      (c)      Eligibility and all other requirements, not set forth in this subtitle, shall be established by rules and regulations promulgated by the State Administration.