Establishment. The Director may establish an Expanded Cashing Authority Program. Retailers selected by the Director may pay cash prizes up to $5,000. Participation. Before authorizing a retailer to participate in the Expanded Cashing Authority Program, the Director may consider: The length of time the retailer has been licensed; The financial record and responsibility of the retailer; The retailer’s compliance with the requirements of this subtitle; The need for expanded cashing authority within a specific geographical location; The number of existing retailers with expanded cashing authority; The overall performance of the retailer since the license was issued; and Any other factor deemed relevant by the Director. Retailer Requirements. A retailer in the Expanded Cashing Authority Program shall: Maintain a separate bank account solely for lottery monies to the credit of the State Lottery Fund; Ensure the confidential handling of personal information from players and winners by not disclosing any personal information to anyone other than the Agency or as required by law; Collect income tax information relating to a holder of a winning ticket to the Agency as required by the Internal Revenue Service or the Agency; For prizes over $600, utilize the terminal to determine, whether a holder of a winning ticket: Owes a State obligation; or Is on the Commission’s Voluntary Exclusion List described in COMAR 36.01.03; and If the Agency has notified the retailer that the holder may not be paid, the retailer shall deny payment of a prize to the holder of a winning lottery ticket if the Agency has notified the retailer that the holder may not be paid. Recertification for the Program. The Director may establish a periodic recertification process for retailers in the Expanded Cashing Authority Program. Removal from the Program. A retailer participating in the Expanded Cashing Authority Program may be removed from the Program at any time by the Director. Removal from the program does not automatically otherwise terminate a retailer’s license. The Director's decision to remove a retailer from the program is final and not subject to appeal.