Section 13-603 - Advisory Council. - Maryland Statutes

§ 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. 
 

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