§ 13-604

(a) The Secretary may contract with any qualified person to administer the Program.

(b) The Secretary shall:

(1) Develop a system to gather and maintain data;

(2) Develop methods to:

(i) Contact parents or guardians of newborns and their identified primary care providers regarding the results of the newborn hearing screening;

(ii) Contact parents or guardians of newborns and infants who have, or are at risk for developing, a permanent hearing status that affects speech–language skills; and

(iii) Ensure families are referred to appropriate services;

(3) Establish a toll–free telephone line to communicate information about hearing status that affects speech–language skills and services for infants who have, or are at risk for developing, a permanent hearing status that affects speech–language skills;

(4) Appoint an Advisory Council for the Program;

(5) Meet annually with the Advisory Council; and

(6) In consultation with the Advisory Council, adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the Program.