{"data":{"id":"us-md/md.-code-human-services-7-804","jurisdiction":"us-md","citation":"Md. Code, Human Services § 7–804","heading":"","body":"(a) The Department in consultation with the Board shall:\n(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;\n(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\n(3) maintain an information and referral service to provide information about the availability of the relay service.\n(b) The Department in consultation with the Board shall:\n(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\n(2) provide appropriate staff assistance from the Department, including a director, to assist the Board in carrying out its duties under this subtitle.\n(c) The director provided under subsection (b)(2) of this section shall:\n(1) be an individual who is:\n(i) deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or speech disabled; and\n(ii) is a user of telecommunications relay services;\n(2) direct the implementation of services and programs established in accordance with this subtitle and Subtitle 9 of this title; and\n(3) advise the Department and the Secretary of Disabilities on regulatory policy and the administration of the Universal Service Trust Fund.","path":["Article - Human Services"],"source_url":"https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=ghu\u0026section=7-804","current_through":"2026-01-01","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:59:17Z","sha256":"cef72a2b9a54d75e0fe9ebfed8e4522abf40e99308d17e0393c1de71823f515d","source_id":"us-md","stale":false,"prev":"us-md/md.-code-human-services-7-803","next":"us-md/md.-code-human-services-7-805"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}