Ch. 161

2003 LAWS OF MARYLAND

Article - State Finance and Procurement

Subtitle 9. Telecommunications Devices AND DISTRIBUTION OF ACCESSIBLE
INFORMATION for Disabled Individuals.

3-901.

(a)     In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.

(b)     "Board" means the Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunications
Relay as defined under § 3-801 of this title.

(c)      "DISTRIBUTION OF ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION" MEANS COMPUTERIZED
AUDIO INFORMATION, INCLUDING NEWSPAPERS, PROVIDED TO PERSONS ELIGIBLE
FOR SERVICE FROM THE MARYLAND STATE LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND AND
PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED.

(D) "Program" means the program developed and administered by the
Department in consultation with the Board and the Governor's Office for Individuals
with Disabilities to provide financial assistance for the purchase of specialized
customer premises equipment (SCPE) by eligible program participants.

[(d)] (E) "Program participant" means a person who:

(1)     is a resident of the State;

(2)     is certified by a licensed professional as having a disability which
seriously limits or prohibits the use of the basic telephone network without
specialized customer premises equipment;

(3)     is certified by a licensed professional as being able to use specialized
customer premises equipment for which application is made;

(4)     meets the financial eligibility requirements established by the
Governor's Office for Individuals with Disabilities as a recipient of:

(i) Transitional Emergency Medical and Housing Assistance
(TEMHA);

(ii) Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or

(iii) Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC); and

(5)     at the time of application is not receiving similar services which are
available and can be provided in a timely manner through another program.

(F) "QUALIFIED ENTITY' MEANS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WHICH:

(I)      PRODUCES AUDIO EDITIONS OF DAILY NEWSPAPERS,
AVAILABLE FOR INTERSTATE DISTRIBUTION USING HIGH-SPEED COMPUTER AND
TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY; AND

(II)     PROVIDES A MEANS OF PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION AND
READER REGISTRATION ON THE INTERNET.

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