1. (a) The Secretary may contract with any qualified person to administer the Program.

2. (b) The Secretary shall:

   1. (1) Develop a system to gather and maintain data;

   2. (2) Develop methods to:

      1. (i) Contact parents or guardians of newborns and their identified primary care providers regarding the results of the newborn hearing screening;
      2. (ii) Contact parents or guardians of newborns and infants who have, or are at risk for developing, a permanent hearing status that affects speech-language skills; and
      3. (iii) Ensure families are referred to appropriate services;
   3. (3) Establish a toll-free telephone line to communicate information about hearing status that affects speech-language skills and services for infants who have, or are at risk for developing, a permanent hearing status that affects speech-language skills;
   4. (4) Appoint an Advisory Council for the Program;
   5. (5) Meet annually with the Advisory Council; and
   6. (6) In consultation with the Advisory Council, adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the Program.

Added by Acts 1985, c. 402, § 1, eff. June 1, 1985. Amended by Acts 1989, c. 118, § 1, eff. July 1, 1989; Acts 1999, c. 127, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, c. 128, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1999; Acts 2014, c. 30, § 1, eff. July 1, 2014.