Maryland § 7-804

§ 7-804.

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

        (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, including a director, to assist the Board in carrying out its duties under this subtitle.

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

        (1)    be an individual who is:

            (i)    deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or speech disabled; and

            (ii)    is a user of telecommunications relay services;

        (2)    direct the implementation of services and programs established in accordance with this subtitle and Subtitle 9 of this title; and

        (3)    advise the Department and the Secretary of Disabilities on regulatory policy and the administration of the Universal Service Trust Fund.