1. (a) The Department in consultation with the Board shall:

   1. (1) establish and administer a program to provide cost-efficient, 24-hour, dual party relay service to program participants at a comparable level of access and quality that a standard telecommunication service provides to a person without a hearing or speech disability;
   2. (2) develop the program in collaboration with State programs currently serving disabled individuals and with community agencies or other organizations that have established relay programs; and
   3. (3) maintain an information and referral service to provide information about the availability of the relay service.

2. (b) The Department in consultation with the Board shall:

   1. (1) contract with a private vendor or nonprofit organization to provide the information and referral service required under subsection (a)(3) of this section; and
   2. (2) provide appropriate staff assistance from the Department, including a director, to assist the Board in carrying out its duties under this subtitle.

3. (c) The director provided under subsection (b)(2) of this section shall:

   1. (1) be an individual who is:

      1. (i) deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or speech disabled; and
      2. (ii) is a user of telecommunications relay services;
   2. (2) direct the implementation of services and programs established in accordance with this subtitle and Subtitle 9 of this title; and
   3. (3) advise the Department and the Secretary of Disabilities on regulatory policy and the administration of the Universal Service Trust Fund.

Added as State Finance and Procurement § 3A-504 by Acts 2008, c. 9, § 2, eff. July 1, 2008. Amended by Acts 2012, c. 571, § 1, eff. July 1, 2012; Acts 2012, c. 572, § 1, eff. July 1, 2012. Transferred to be Human Services § 7-804 by Acts 2020, c. 586, § 1, eff. July 1, 2020. Amended by Acts 2020, c. 586, § 2, eff. July 1, 2020.