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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="10-929" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2028 PER CHAPTER 867 OF 2024" title_number="10" title_name="Mental Health Law" subtitle_number="9" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Provisions">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “Program” means the Language Assistance Services Pilot Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is a Language Assistance Services Pilot Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The purpose of the Program is to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Provide meaningful access to behavioral health care to children with limited English proficiency; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Establish a competitive grant process for local behavioral health authorities to provide reimbursement to behavioral health providers for language assistance services, including interpretation and translation services to:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Children with limited English proficiency accessing and receiving behavioral health services; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Parents and legal guardians coordinating the provision of behavioral health services and making health care decisions regarding the services on behalf of a child.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Administration shall administer the Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>The Administration shall implement the following requirements as part of administering the Program:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A requirement that a grantee document and report:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The number of children who received language assistance services broken down by primary language spoken;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The number of parents and legal guardians who received language assistance services broken down by primary language spoken; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The number of language assistance services that were reimbursed broken down by the type of behavioral health service provided; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A requirement that, to request and receive a reimbursement from a Program grantee, a health care provider must:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Be a licensed and accredited behavioral health provider; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Have a current, written language access plan demonstrating how the provider ensures meaningful access to its programs and activities for individuals with limited English proficiency.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>The language access plan required under subsection (e)(2)(ii) of this section shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Be provided to the grantee in addition to any request for reimbursement for language assistance services; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A self–assessment of the circumstances under which the provider may encounter an individual with limited English proficiency;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A self–assessment of the number or proportion of individuals with limited English proficiency from each language group in the provider’s service area to determine appropriate language assistance services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The provider’s procedure for identifying an individual’s primary language;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>The provider’s procedure for providing language assistance services, including oral and written language assistance services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>The provider’s procedure for ensuring effective communication with individuals with limited English proficiency in languages encountered less frequently;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>The provider’s plan for training staff on the provider’s policies and procedures; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>The provider’s procedure for providing notice of language assistance services at no cost to individuals with limited English proficiency.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>For each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the Governor shall include in the annual budget bill an appropriation of $120,000 to the Program.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>The Administration shall award, at a minimum, three grants of $30,000 each in each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>On or before December 1, 2025, 2026, and 2027, the Administration shall submit to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly a report on the implementation of the Program that includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The total number of individuals with limited English proficiency who received language assistance services broken down by jurisdiction;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The total number of children who received language assistance services broken down by primary language spoken;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The total number of parents and legal guardians who received language assistance services broken down by primary language spoken;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The total number of language assistance services that were reimbursed broken down by the type of behavioral health service provided; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The total amount in grant money provided to each grantee during the immediately preceding fiscal year.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
