Health - General (GHG) — Title 24. Miscellaneous Provisions

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Distribute” includes:

“Exotic bird” means a bird that is not native to this State.

“Permit” means a permit issued by the Secretary to import, distribute, and breed exotic birds.

A person shall hold a permit issued by the Secretary before the person may import, distribute, or breed any exotic bird in this State.

A permit is not required for a person:

A separate permit is required for each facility where a person keeps an exotic bird.

On a form approved by the Secretary, each permit holder shall keep a record of the following information for each exotic bird received or disposed of by the permit holder or an agent of the permit holder:

Each permit holder shall keep for at least 1 year, at the facility for which the permit is issued, any record required under this section.

If a bird dies while in the possession of a permit holder, the permit holder shall freeze the bird immediately.

The Secretary of Health shall specify the methods for handling, treating, and destroying any bird that:

In a case that involves velogenic visertrophic Newcastle disease or any other disease that is contagious to domestic animals or poultry, the State Secretary of Agriculture shall specify the methods for handling, treating, and destroying any bird that:

The Secretary of Health or a representative of the Secretary of Health may inspect the facilities of any permit holder.

On request, any permit holder or the Secretary of Health shall make available to the State Secretary of Agriculture any record, specimen, or other material necessary to diagnose or trace any infectious disease that:

At all times during business hours, each privately owned and commercially operated indoor racket sports facility shall have on the premises personnel who are certified to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

This section may not be construed as creating any civil or criminal liability.

In this section, “smoking” means the act of smoking or carrying a burning:

Every director of a nursing home, health clinic, or physician’s office shall make and carry out a plan that adequately protects the health of nonsmoking patients by regulating the smoking of tobacco products on the premises.

Is used in the establishment; and

May be harmful to an individual who is susceptible to epileptic or similar seizures.

The Department shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section, including:

In each business establishment, public building, or commercial building or structure, each door that has a surface area of at least 80 percent transparent glass shall be marked so that it warns any individual nearing it that a glass door is present.

A person who violates any provision of this section or any rule or regulation adopted under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50.

To assure the cost-free operation of toilets in any public or private building required by any State, county, or municipal law, rule, or regulation to have public toilets, and to end any discriminatory effect based on sex related to the use of coin-operated pay toilets, in any public or private building required by State, county, or municipal law, rule, or regulation to have public toilets, a fee or charge may not be imposed for the use of any toilet required by law, rule, or regulation to be installed in any public or private building. However, any number of toilets greater than the number required by law, rule, or regulation may be coin-operated.

A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $50.

At the request of a customer during normal business hours, and where a public restroom is not readily available, each retail establishment that has a toilet facility for its employees shall allow the customer to use the facility if:

The Maryland Department of Health shall develop a standard identification card that is available on the Department’s website to be printed and signed by a health care provider as evidence of the existence of an eligible medical condition.

Notwithstanding any provision of this section, an employee toilet facility is not to be considered a public restroom.

In any place of public entertainment required by a State, county, or municipal law, rule, or regulation to have a public restroom, sanitary fixtures shall be distributed so that the number of toilets provided in a public restroom for women shall be no less than the combined number of toilets and urinals provided in a public restroom for men.

The provisions of this section shall apply to any place of public entertainment for which a construction permit is issued after May 1, 1993.

This section does not apply to:

The proprietor of a building containing any elevator whose use is available to the general public shall post a sign prohibiting the smoking of tobacco products in that elevator. The sign shall state “Smoking in This Elevator Is Illegal and Subject to a Penalty Not to Exceed $25.00”.

A person may not smoke tobacco products in any area prohibited under subsection (a) of this section.

The Commissioner of Labor and Industry may promulgate rules and regulations in furtherance of the provisions of this section.

Any person who violates any provision of this section is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $25.

The Department shall adopt rules and regulations that establish safety requirements for eyeglass and sunglass lenses and frames.

A person may not sell or dispense any eyeglasses or sunglasses that do not meet the safety requirements established by the Department.

A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

Subject to subsection (d) of this section, the Department shall adopt regulations that govern the selling and dispensing of plano and zero-powered contact lenses and plano and zero-powered replacement contact lenses.

A person may not knowingly sell or dispense contact lenses or replacement contact lenses without a valid and unexpired prescription or replacement contact lens prescription.

A person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000.

This section does not limit the right of the State Board of Examiners in Optometry to regulate an optometrist who knowingly sells or dispenses contact lenses or replacement contact lenses without a valid and unexpired prescription or replacement contact lens prescription.

A person may not knowingly manufacture, sell, rent, or offer for sale any toy that is designed to depict torture or to resemble any instrument that is designed specifically for torture.

This section does not apply to:

A person may not sell methyl methacrylate liquid monomer to a beauty salon, as defined in § 5-101 of the Business Occupations and Professions Article.

A person that violates any provision of this section or any regulation adopted by the Secretary under this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 for each violation.

On or after January 1, 2012, a person may not manufacture, knowingly sell, or distribute in commerce any child care article containing bisphenol–A.

Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, on or after July 1, 2014:

In complying with subsections (b) and (c) of this section, a person:

A person that violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $10,000 for each violation.

On or before January 1, 2012, the Department shall adopt regulations to carry out subsection (b) of this section.

If the Secretary certifies that the safety concerns for bisphenol–A are resolved by additional research or if implementation of subsection (c) of this section would adversely affect the health or well–being of children or adults, the Secretary may suspend implementation of subsection (c) of this section.

This section does not apply to a tobacco product that is regulated under Title 16 of the Business Regulation Article.

In a prosecution for a violation of this section, it is a defense that the defendant examined the purchaser’s or recipient’s driver’s license or other valid identification issued by a government unit that positively identified the purchaser or recipient as at least 21 years of age.

This section does not apply to the sale or distribution of a child care product that is resold, offered for resale, or distributed by a consumer for consumer use.

A person may not import, sell, or offer for sale any child care product that:

The Secretary may suspend implementation of subsection (c) of this section if the Secretary determines that the fire safety benefits of TCEP or TDCPP are greater than the health risks associated with TCEP or TDCPP.

On or before June 1, 2021, the Department shall adopt regulations to carry out this section.

This section does not apply to the sale or distribution of a juvenile product, mattress, upholstered furniture, or reupholstered furniture that is resold, offered for resale, or distributed by a consumer for consumer use.

On or before June 1, 2021, the Department shall adopt regulations to carry out this section.

In a prosecution for a violation of subsection (b) of this section, it is a defense that the defendant examined the purchaser’s or recipient’s driver’s license or other valid identification issued by a governmental unit that positively identified the purchaser or recipient as at least 21 years old.

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Cannabis” has the meaning stated in § 1–101 of the Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article.

“Electronic smoking device” has the meaning stated in § 16.7–101 of the Business Regulation Article.

“Employee” has the meaning stated in § 5–101 of the Labor and Employment Article.

“Employer” has the meaning stated in § 5–101 of the Labor and Employment Article.

“Environmental smoke” means:

“Hemp” has the meaning stated in § 14–101 of the Agriculture Article.

“Indoor area open to the public” means:

“Place of employment” has the meaning stated in § 5–101 of the Labor and Employment Article.

“Smoking” means the burning of a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or any other matter or substance containing, wholly or in part, tobacco, cannabis, or hemp.

“Tobacco product” has the meaning stated in § 13–1001 of this article.

“Vaping” means the use of:

An indoor area open to the public;

An indoor place in which meetings are open to the public in accordance with Title 3 of the General Provisions Article;

A government–owned or government–operated means of mass transportation including buses, vans, trains, taxicabs, and limousines; or

An indoor place of employment.

Private homes, residences, including residences used as a business or place of employment, unless being used by a person who is licensed or registered under Title 5, Subtitle 5 of the Family Law Article to provide child care, and private vehicles, unless being used for the public transportation of children, or as part of health care or child care transportation;

A hotel or motel room rented to one or more guests as long as the total percent of hotel or motel rooms being so used does not exceed 25%;

A retail tobacco business that is a sole proprietorship, limited liability company, corporation, partnership, or other enterprise, in which:

Any facility of a manufacturer, importer, wholesaler, or distributor of tobacco products or of any tobacco leaf dealer or processor in which employees of the manufacturer, importer, wholesaler, distributor, or processor work or congregate; or

A research or educational laboratory for the purpose of conducting scientific research into the health effects of environmental smoke.

Signs that state “Smoking or Vaping Permitted in This Room” shall be prominently posted and properly maintained where smoking or vaping is allowed under § 24–505(2) of this subtitle.

Signs that state “No Smoking or Vaping” shall be conspicuously posted and properly maintained in each indoor area open to the public and each public entrance to an indoor area where smoking or vaping is prohibited under this subtitle.

The signs shall be posted and maintained by the owner, operator, manager, or other person having control of the area.

The letters on the signs shall be at least 1 inch in height.

The Department shall adopt regulations that prohibit environmental smoke in indoor areas open to the public.

On or before September 30 of each year, the Department shall report, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on:

Subject to subsection (c) of this section and except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, a person who violates a provision of this subtitle or a regulation adopted under § 24–507(a) of this subtitle:

The Secretary may waive a penalty established under subsection (a) of this section, giving consideration to factors that include:

An employer who discharges or discriminates against an employee because that employee has made a complaint, has given information to the Department in accordance with this subtitle, has caused to be instituted or is about to cause to be instituted a proceeding under this subtitle, or has testified or is about to testify in a proceeding under this subtitle, shall be deemed in violation of this subtitle and shall be subject to a civil penalty of at least $2,000 but not more than $10,000 for each violation.

A penalty collected by the Secretary under this section shall be paid to the Cigarette Restitution Fund established under § 7–317 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Facility” means:

“Nonprofit organization” means:

“Wholly owned” includes leased, if:

Before the Department approves any project, the applicant shall file with the Department:

The allocation and use of State funds under this subtitle are subject to the following terms and conditions.

The amount of the State grant for any project shall be determined after consideration of all eligible applications, the total of unallocated State funds available at the time the application is received, and the priorities of area need as may be established by the Department.

The Board of Public Works shall make allocations from funds available under this subtitle in accordance with this subtitle.

The Board shall certify the allocations to the proper State officers, and the Treasurer shall make payments to the applicant, when needed, for the construction, acquisition, renovation, or equipping of a facility.

The Board may adopt regulations for receiving and considering applications and for disbursing funds to applicants.

In accordance with this section, the State:

Subject to subsection (a)(2) of this section, in the event of failure to complete a project or failure to commence operation of a facility, the State may recover from the recipient of the funds disbursed for the project or facility or the owner of the property an amount equal to the amount of State funds disbursed for the project, together with all costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the State in the recovery proceedings.

Subject to subsection (a)(2) of this section, if, within 30 years after completion of a project, a community mental health facility, addiction facility, or developmental disabilities facility with respect to which funds have been paid under this subtitle is sold or transferred to any person, agency, or organization that would not qualify as an applicant under this subtitle, or that is not approved as a transferee by the Board of Public Works, or if, within the same period, a community mental health facility, addiction facility, or developmental disabilities facility ceases to be a “facility” as defined in this subtitle, then the State may recover from either the transferor or transferee or, in the case of a community mental health facility, addiction facility, or developmental disabilities facility that has ceased to be a “facility” as defined in this subtitle, from the owner, an amount bearing the same ratio to the then current fair market value of so much of the property as constituted an approved project as the amount of the State participation bore to the total eligible cost of the approved project, together with all costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the State in the recovery proceedings.

The Department shall adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this subtitle.

The regulations shall include requirements for annual financial statements from each facility for at least the term of the bond used to finance any project at the facility.

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Adult day care center” means a nonresidential center that:

“Facility” means an adult day care center that is wholly owned by and operated under the authority of:

“Nonprofit organization” means:

“Wholly owned” includes leased, if:

The conversion of public buildings or parts of buildings to adult day care centers;

The acquisition of existing buildings or parts of buildings for use as adult day care centers;

The renovation of adult day care centers;

The purchase of capital equipment for adult day care centers; or

The planning, design, and construction of adult day care centers.

Any county, municipal corporation, or nonprofit organization sponsoring a project involving work specified in § 24–702 of this subtitle may apply to the Department for a State grant to be applied toward the cost of that project.

The allocation and use of State funds under this subtitle are subject to the following terms and conditions.

State funds may be used to acquire an existing building or part of a building for use as an adult day care center, or to plan, design, and construct an adult day care center, only if the local government and the Department certify to the Board of Public Works that no surplus school building or other public building appropriate for use as an adult day care center exists in the area where it is desired to locate a center.

Any federal or other grant that is received for an eligible project shall be applied first to the cost of the project.

Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f) of this section, a State grant may not exceed $400,000 or 50 percent of the cost of eligible work remaining unpaid after all federal and other grants have been applied, whichever is less.

At the discretion of the Board of Public Works, a State grant may exceed 50 percent of the cost of eligible work remaining unpaid after all federal and other grants have been applied, if:

For a project designated under federal regulations, State plans, or departmental regulations as eligible for poverty area funding, a State grant may cover up to 75 percent of the cost of eligible work remaining unpaid after all federal and other grants have been applied.

The amount of the State grant for any project shall be determined after consideration of all eligible applications, the total of unallocated State funds available at the time the application is received, and the priorities of area need as may be established by the Department.

No portion of the proceeds of a State grant may be used for the furtherance of sectarian religious instruction, or in connection with the design, acquisition, or construction of any building used or to be used as a place of sectarian religious worship or instruction, or in connection with any program or department of divinity for any religious denomination. Upon the request of the Board of Public Works, the applicant shall submit evidence satisfactory to the Board that none of the proceeds of the grant have been or are being used for a purpose prohibited by this subtitle.

The Board of Public Works shall make allocations from funds available under this subtitle in accordance with this subtitle.

The Board shall certify the allocations to the proper State officers, and the Treasurer shall make payments to or on behalf of the applicant, when needed, for the approved project.

The Board of Public Works may adopt regulations to implement this section.

If, within 30 years after completion of a project, a property with respect to which funds have been paid under this subtitle is sold or transferred to any person, agency, or organization that would not qualify as an applicant under this subtitle, or that is not approved as a transferee by the Board of Public Works, or if, within the same period, the property ceases to be a “facility” as defined in this subtitle, then the State may recover from either the transferor or transferee or, in the case of a property that has ceased to be a “facility” as defined in this subtitle, from the owner, an amount bearing the same ratio to the then-current value of so much of the property as constituted an approved project as the amount of the State participation bore to the total eligible cost of the approved project, together with all costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by the State in the recovery proceedings.

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Commissioner of Health” means the Baltimore City Commissioner of Health.

“HIV” means the human immunodeficiency virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

“Participant” means an individual who has registered with the Program.

“Program” means the HIV Prevention Syringe Services Program.

“Residue” means the dried remains of a controlled dangerous substance attached to or contained within a hypodermic needle or syringe.

There is an HIV Prevention Syringe Services Program in the Baltimore City Health Department.

The Program shall:

Be designed and maintained to provide security measures and processes required to safely distribute hypodermic needles and syringes and account for the number of hypodermic needles and syringes exchanged and distributed by the Baltimore City Health Department and the number of hypodermic needles and syringes in storage;

Be operated to allow participants to exchange used hypodermic needles and syringes at available mobile syringe services sites;

Include appropriate levels of staff expertise in working with injecting drug users and adequate staff training in providing community service provider referrals, counseling, and preventive education;

Provide for the dissemination of other preventive means for decreasing the risk of HIV transmission;

Provide referrals to drug counseling and treatment services, and follow–up to those referrals to assure that participants receive the treatment they desire;

Educate injecting drug users on the risk of transmitting HIV or the hepatitis B virus through high–risk needle–sharing practices and sexual behaviors;

Include policies and procedures for the screening of applicants to the Program in order to preclude noninjecting drug users from participating in the Program; and

Implement procedures for identifying Program participants that are consistent with the confidentiality provisions of this subtitle.

The Mayor of Baltimore City shall appoint an oversight committee for the Program.

The oversight committee shall consist of:

The oversight committee shall:

The Commissioner of Health shall appoint a Director for the Program.

With the advice of the oversight committee, the Director shall develop and revise as necessary:

The Director shall submit the operating procedures, the plan for a community outreach and education program, and the substance use treatment referral protocol to the Commissioner of Health or the Commissioner’s designee for approval prior to the implementation of revised procedures.

The Baltimore City Health Department shall include in its Program operating procedures measures to collect the following data:

With the advice of the oversight committee, the Baltimore City Health Department shall develop and implement a plan for Program evaluation that shall include the following issues:

As part of its plans for data collection and Program evaluation described under subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Baltimore City Health Department shall develop and implement a methodology to collect returned needles and syringes and send them to the Rapid Analysis of Drugs program operated by the Center for Harm Reduction at the Maryland Department of Health.

On or before December 31 of each year, the Baltimore City Health Department shall report to the oversight committee, the Governor, and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly, on the number of hypodermic needles and syringes exchanged as part of the Program.

Any information obtained by the Program that would identify Program participants, including Program records, is:

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Community–based organization” means a public or private organization that is representative of a community or significant segments of a community and provides educational, health, or social services to individuals in the community.

“Drug” has the meaning stated in § 8–101 of this article.

“HIV” means the human immunodeficiency virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

“Participant” means an individual who has registered with a Program.

“Program” means an Opioid–Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Program.

“Residue” means the remains of a controlled dangerous substance attached to or contained within a hypodermic needle or syringe.

“Substance–related disorder” has the meaning stated in § 7.5–101 of this article.

“Viral hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E viruses.

If established under subsection (a) of this section, a Program shall:

A Program shall:

A Program may offer additional services, including:

With the technical assistance of the Standing Advisory Committee, a Program shall develop:

After receiving technical assistance from the Standing Advisory Committee, a Program shall submit the operating procedures, plan for community outreach and education, and protocol for linking Program participants to substance–related disorder treatment and recovery services developed under subsection (c) of this section for approval to:

The Department shall appoint a Standing Advisory Committee on Opioid–Associated Disease Prevention and Outreach Programs.

The Standing Advisory Committee shall consist of:

The Secretary or the Secretary’s designee shall serve as chair of the Standing Advisory Committee.

The Standing Advisory Committee shall:

The Department shall:

The regulations adopted under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall establish:

Any information obtained by a Program that identifies Program participants, including Program records, is:

The number of participants served by the Program;

The number of new participants registered by the Program during the reporting period;

Demographic profiles of participants served by the Program, including:

The number of hypodermic needles and syringes distributed and collected;

Each location at which hypodermic needles and syringes were distributed; and

The number of linkages provided to participants under § 24–903(a)(6) of this subtitle.

A Program staff member, Program volunteer, or Program participant may not be arrested, charged, or prosecuted for violating § 5–601, § 5–619, § 5–620, or § 5–902(c) or (d) of the Criminal Law Article for possessing or distributing controlled paraphernalia or drug paraphernalia whenever the possession or distribution of the controlled paraphernalia or drug paraphernalia is a direct result of the employee’s, volunteer’s, or participant’s activities in connection with the work of a Program authorized under this subtitle.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, a Program staff member, Program volunteer, or Program participant is not immune from criminal prosecution for any activities not authorized or approved by a Program.

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Assisted living facility” means a residential facility or facility-based program that:

“Facility” means an assisted living facility that is wholly owned by and operated under the authority of:

“Nonprofit organization” means:

“Wholly owned” includes leased, if:

The conversion of public buildings or parts of buildings to assisted living facilities;

The acquisition of existing buildings or parts of buildings for use as assisted living facilities;

The renovation of assisted living facilities;

The purchase of capital equipment for assisted living facilities; or

The planning, design, and construction of assisted living facilities.

Any county, municipal corporation, or nonprofit organization sponsoring a project involving work specified in § 24-1002 of this subtitle may apply to the Secretary for a State grant to be applied toward the cost of that project.

On approval of a project and the project plans by the Department, the Secretary shall promptly report the application to the Board of Public Works, together with the Secretary’s recommendation that the Board make funds available as provided in this subtitle.

The allocation and use of State funds under this subtitle are subject to the following terms and conditions.

If the local government and the Department certify to the Board of Public Works that a surplus public building appropriate for use as an assisted living facility does not exist in the area in which the facility is to be located, State funds may be used to:

Any federal or other grant that is received for an eligible project shall be applied first to the cost of the project.

Except as provided in subsections (e) and (f) of this section, a State grant may not exceed 50% of the cost of eligible work remaining unpaid after all federal and other grants have been applied.

At the discretion of the Board of Public Works, a State grant may exceed 50% of the cost of eligible work remaining unpaid after all federal and other grants have been applied, if:

For a project designated as eligible for poverty area funding under federal regulations, State plans, or departmental regulations, a State grant may cover up to 75% of the cost of eligible work remaining unpaid after all federal and other grants have been applied.

The amount of the State grant for any project shall be determined after consideration of:

The Board of Public Works shall make allocations from funds available under this subtitle in accordance with this subtitle.

The Board shall certify the allocations to the proper State officers, and the Treasurer shall make payments to or on behalf of the applicant, when needed, for the approved project.

The Board of Public Works may adopt regulations to implement this section.

The State may recover from either the transferor or transferee or, in the case of a property that has ceased to be a “facility”, from the owner, an amount bearing the same ratio to the then current value of so much of the property as constituted an approved project as the amount of the State participation bore to the total eligible cost of the approved project, together with all costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the State in the recovery proceedings, if, within 30 years after completion of a project, a property for which funds have been paid under this subtitle:

Proceedings to determine the State’s right to recover and the amount of its recovery under this subtitle shall have priority over other civil proceedings in the circuit courts.

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Proceeds” means the gross proceeds minus the costs associated with the sale, lease, or disposition of property and equipment, as determined by the Department of General Services.

“Trust Fund” means the Community Services Trust Fund.

There is a Community Services Trust Fund in the Office of the Treasurer.

The purpose of the Trust Fund is to receive and hold the proceeds from the sale or long–term lease of property and equipment of a Developmental Disabilities Administration facility or a Behavioral Health Administration facility.

The Trust Fund is a continuing, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

The Trust Fund consists of two accounts.

The Trust Fund may only be used in accordance with this section.

In accordance with an appropriation approved by the General Assembly in the State budget, the Comptroller shall transfer:

For fiscal year 2026 only, the Developmental Disabilities Administration may use money in the Trust Fund for provider reimbursements.

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Health and Human Services Referral System” means a coordinated system for health and human service resources accessible to all State residents through 2–1–1 and other designated technology systems.

“2–1–1” means the abbreviated dialing code assigned by the Federal Communications Commission for consumer access to community information and referral services.

“2–1–1 Maryland” means the Maryland Information Network, 2–1–1 Maryland, a 501(c)(3) corporation in the State that administers the 2–1–1 system.

“2–1–1 Maryland call center” means a nonprofit agency or organization designated by 2–1–1 Maryland to provide 2–1–1 services.

The General Assembly:

The purpose of this subtitle is to establish the three–digit number, 2–1–1, as the primary information and referral telephone number for health and human services in the State.

Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, an agency or organization shall be approved by 2–1–1 Maryland as a 2–1–1 Maryland call center in order to provide 2–1–1 services in the State.

When approving a 2–1–1 service provider, 2–1–1 Maryland shall consider:

If an agency of the State that provides health and human services establishes a public information telephone line or hotline, the agency shall consult with 2–1–1 Maryland about using the 2–1–1 system to provide public access to information.

The Department shall, in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, as appropriate:

The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation to the Department in an amount sufficient to carry out subsection (a)(4) of this section.

On or before December 31, 2005, and every year thereafter, the Department, in consultation with 2–1–1 Maryland, shall report to the Governor and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, to the General Assembly on the activities performed under subsection (a) of this section.

The availability of appropriated funds; and

Audit by the Office of Legislative Audits under § 2–1220 of the State Government Article.

In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

“Federally qualified health center” means a health center that is:

“Nonprofit organization” means:

“Wholly owned” includes leased, if:

There is a Federally Qualified Health Centers Grant Program.

On the recommendation of the Secretary, the Board of Public Works may make grants to counties, municipal corporations, and nonprofit organizations for:

Any county, municipal corporation, or nonprofit organization sponsoring a project involving work specified in § 24-1302 of this subtitle may apply to the Secretary for a State grant to be applied toward the cost of that project.

The application for a grant shall include:

On approval of a project and the project plans, the Secretary shall promptly report the application to the Board of Public Works, together with the Secretary’s recommendation that the Board make funds available as provided in this subtitle.

The allocation and use of State funds under this subtitle are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this section.

State funds may only be used for the purposes listed under § 24–1302 of this subtitle and approved by the Secretary under § 24–1303 of this subtitle.

The allocation and use of State funds under this subtitle are subject to the following terms and conditions:

For a project designated as eligible for poverty area funding under federal regulations, State plans, or departmental regulations, a State grant may cover up to 90% of the cost of eligible work remaining unpaid after all federal grants have been applied.

The amount of the State grant recommended to the Board of Public Works for any project shall be determined after consideration of:

Beginning in fiscal year 2007 and continuing every fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall include an appropriation in the State capital budget to be distributed and managed in accordance with this subtitle.

The Board of Public Works shall make allocations from funds available under this subtitle in accordance with this subtitle.

The Board shall certify the allocations to the proper State officers, and the Treasurer shall make payments to or on behalf of the applicant, when needed, for the approved project.

The Board of Public Works may adopt regulations to implement this section.