(a) The Secretary of Human Services and the Secretary of Health shall, in developing the protocol required under § 5-1202 of this subtitle, consider the recommendations developed by the statewide Task Force to Study Increasing the Availability of Substance Abuse Programs established under Article 41, § 18-316 of the Code, as enacted by Chapter 778 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1998, as amended by Chapter 390 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1999.

(b) (1) On or before June 30, 2001, the Secretary of Human Services and the Secretary of Health shall enter into a memorandum of understanding setting forth the responsibilities of each department to implement the provisions of this subtitle.

(2) Subject to § 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the Secretary of Human Services and the Secretary of Health shall submit a copy of the memorandum of understanding entered into under paragraph (1) of this subsection to the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, the Senate Economic and Environmental Affairs Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, and the House Environmental Matters Committee.