(a) The governing body of a county or municipal corporation may request that the Governor furnish the number of inmates that the county or municipal corporation can profitably employ to construct, repair, or maintain the public roads under its jurisdiction.
(b) After the Governor has assigned inmates to the State Highway Administration under § 9-509 of this subtitle, from the remaining inmates certified to the Governor under § 9-508 of this subtitle, the Governor may assign the number of inmates that the Governor considers equitable among counties and municipal corporations requesting inmates under subsection (a) of this section.