§ 1-1A-03

(a) The Secretary may:

(1) Establish qualifications for a person requesting agricultural mediation services from the Department;

(2) Establish qualifications for an individual applying to serve as a mediator in the State agricultural mediation program;

(3) Contract with any qualified individual to provide mediation services for qualified mediation applicants; and

(4) Receive grants for purposes of defraying the costs of the State agricultural mediation program.

(b) The Secretary may adopt regulations to:

(1) Meet the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture for establishing a federally certified State agricultural mediation program; and

(2) Implement the provisions of this subtitle.