(1) Makes referrals to assisted living programs without cost to the person receiving the referral; and

(2) Is compensated by an assisted living program or other third party for referring individuals to a licensed assisted living program.

(b) Each assisted living referrer:

(1) Shall register with the Office of Health Care Quality;

(2) Shall disclose to a client or potential client of the assisted living referrer all financial relationships the assisted living referrer has with assisted living programs;

(3) If referring a client or potential client to an assisted living program, shall affirm that the assisted living program is licensed;

(4) If referring a client or potential client to an assisted living program, may refer the client or potential client only to a licensed assisted living program; and

(5) Shall notify the Office of Health Care Quality immediately on learning that the assisted living program is operating without a license.

(c) An assisted living referrer may not:

(1) Receive funding from the Department if the assisted living referrer is in violation of this subtitle; or

(2) Make referrals only to licensed assisted living programs from which the assisted living referrer receives compensation as described in subsection (a)(2) of this section.

(d) If requested by any person or on its own initiative, the Office of the Attorney General may investigate whether an assisted living referrer violated this subtitle and may seek appropriate relief.