In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Agricultural mediation” means a voluntary process in which a mediator helps private parties or government agencies resolve agriculturally related disputes in a confidential and nonadversarial setting. “Mediator” means an impartial person who is trained to help people find mutually acceptable solutions to shared problems and has no power to impose a solution.

The Secretary may establish a federally certified State agricultural mediation program in the Department. The purpose of the program is to provide eligible persons and government agencies with a voluntary and low–cost process to settle agriculturally related disputes.

The Secretary may: Establish qualifications for a person requesting agricultural mediation services from the Department; Establish qualifications for an individual applying to serve as a mediator in the State agricultural mediation program; Contract with any qualified individual to provide mediation services for qualified mediation applicants; and Receive grants for purposes of defraying the costs of the State agricultural mediation program. The Secretary may adopt regulations to: Meet the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture for establishing a federally certified State agricultural mediation program; and Implement the provisions of this subtitle.

Except for purposes of meeting the reporting requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture for a federally certified State agricultural mediation program, the Department shall maintain the confidentiality of all mediation records.