§3.5–702.

    (a)    The Department of Aging shall:

        (1)    establish and administer the Program to provide senior call–check and social connections to eligible participants; and

        (2)    adopt regulations necessary to implement the Program.

    (b)    The purpose of the Program is to provide regular, direct communication from the Department of Aging or the Department’s designee to an eligible participant to promote wellness and purposeful social engagement.

    (c)    The Department of Aging shall integrate services with the Telecommunications Access of Maryland Program established under § 7–902 of the Human Services Article by promoting awareness of the availability of accessible telecommunications equipment and using educational outreach materials produced by the Telecommunications Access of Maryland Program.

    (d)    (1)    The Department of Aging may enter into agreements or contracts as appropriate with a private vendor, a nonprofit organization, a village incorporated in and serving older adults in the State, an area agency on aging, or any other person to provide Program services.

        (2)    The Department of Aging may enter into interagency agreements with other State or local governmental entities to provide Program services.

        (3)    The Department of Aging may accept funds provided by other public and private sources, including gifts and grants to be used to provide Program services.

    (e)    (1)    The State Tort Claims Act and the Local Government Tort Claims Act, as appropriate, apply to a State or local unit and to an employee or agent of a State or local unit that participates in the Program for services the unit or person provides under the Program in accordance with regulations of the Department of Aging.

        (2)    A person of record, a private vendor, a nonprofit organization, a village incorporated in and serving older adults in the State, an area agency on aging, any other entity under an agreement or contract with the Department, or a volunteer may not be liable for reasonable acts or omissions directly arising from services provided under the Program in accordance with regulations of the Department of Aging.