§ 13-603. Advisory Council

   (a) Established. -- There is an Advisory Council for the program.

(b) Membership. --

   (1) The Advisory Council consists of 11 members appointed by the Secretary.

   (2) Of the 11 members:

      (i) 1 shall be a physician with expertise in childhood hearing loss;

      (ii) 3 shall be from the field of education:

         1. 1 shall be from the Maryland State Department of Education;

         2. 1 shall be from the Maryland School for the Deaf; and

         3. 1 shall be an educator of the deaf from a local education agency;

      (iii) 1 shall be from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;

      (iv) 1 shall be a mental health professional with expertise in the area of deafness;

      (v) 2 shall be parents of hearing-impaired children;

      (vi) 1 shall be from the Maryland Association of the Deaf;

      (vii) 1 shall be an audiologist with expertise in childhood hearing loss; and

      (viii) 1 shall be from the Alexander Graham Bell Association of Maryland.

(c) Chairperson. -- The Advisory Council shall elect a chairperson from among its members.

(d) Meetings. -- The Advisory Council shall meet at least 6 times a year at the times and places that it determines.

(e) Reimbursement for expenses. -- A member of the Advisory Council:

   (1) May not receive compensation; but

   (2) Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.

(f) Duties generally. -- The Advisory Council shall:

   (1) Advise the Department on the implementation of universal hearing screening of newborns and an early identification program and follow-up of hearing-impaired infants and infants who have a risk factor of developing a hearing impairment;

   (2) Provide consultation to the Department in the development of the program;

   (3) Make recommendations for operation of the program;

   (4) Advise the Department:

      (i) In setting standards for the program;

      (ii) In monitoring and reviewing the program; and

      (iii) In providing quality assurance for the program;

   (5) Advise the Department on the development of protocols to assist hospitals in implementing universal hearing screening of newborns;

   (6) Provide consultation to the Department in the establishment of an educational program for families, professionals, and the public that can be integrated with existing State and local education agency programs; and

   (7) Review any materials the Department may distribute to the public concerning hearing-impaired newborns and infants.

(g) Guidelines for operations. -- In consultation with the Advisory Council, the Department shall develop guidelines for the operations of the Advisory Council.

HISTORY: 1985, ch. 402; 1987, ch. 141; 1988, ch. 6, § 1; 1989, ch. 118; 1999, ch. 127, § 1; ch. 128, § 1; 2000, ch. 61, § 1.