(a) This section shall apply to voluntary nonprofit ambulance services and voluntary nonprofit rescue squads which are operated as a public service for the benefit of the citizens of this state. It is declared that said ambulance services and rescue squads are quasi-public entities that are entitled to receive and use public funds or property appropriated, donated or loaned to them by the state or any county or municipal governing body.

(b) All surplus property owned by the state to be disposed of by sale at auction by the Finance Department shall first be screened by the state Board of Health Ambulance Advisory Board created in Section 22-18-5, and the Alabama Association of Rescue Squads, Inc., to determine if such property may be of use by volunteer ambulance services or volunteer rescue squads respectively. If said entities find such property to be useful to voluntary ambulance services or rescue squads, then the state Finance Director shall loan said property to the voluntary services. The state Finance Director is authorized to promulgate necessary rules to implement this section.

(c) Any property transferred to a volunteer ambulance service or rescue squad under the provisions of this section shall be used exclusively for ambulance and rescue purposes. The use of any such property other than on the business of the volunteer ambulance service or rescue squad is expressly prohibited. Any violation of the provision of this section shall be a Class A misdemeanor punishable as provided under Title 13A.

Final disposition of all properties loaned as a result of this section shall rest with the Finance Department of the state.