§ 3A-504. Department in consultation with Board

   (a) In general. -- The Department in consultation with the Board shall:

   (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) 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) maintain an information and referral service to provide information about the availability of the relay service.

(b) Contracts; staffing. -- The Department in consultation with the Board may:

   (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) provide appropriate staff assistance from the Department to assist the Board in carrying out its duties under this subtitle.

HISTORY: 2008, ch. 9, § 2; 2012, chs. 571, 572.