(a) Except as provided in subsection (d) 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.
(b) No more than five call centers may be approved by 2–1–1 Maryland to provide 2–1–1 telephone services in the State.
(c) When approving a 2–1–1 service provider, 2–1–1 Maryland shall consider:
(1) The ability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider to meet the national 2–1–1 standards recommended by:
(i) The Alliance of Information and Referral Systems and adopted by the National 2–1–1 Collaborative; or
(ii) An equivalent entity;
(2) The financial stability of the proposed 2–1–1 service provider;
(3) Any community support for the proposed 2–1–1 service provider;
(4) Any experience that the proposed 2–1–1 service provider has with other information and referral services;
(5) The degree to which the county in which the proposed call center is to be located has dedicated substantial resources to the establishment of a single telephone source for non–emergency inquiries regarding county services; and
(6) Any other criteria that 2–1–1 Maryland considers appropriate.
(d) If a unit of the State that provides health and human services establishes a public information telephone line or hotline, the unit shall consult with 2–1–1 Maryland about using the 2–1–1 system to provide public access to information.