§ 9–2415
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., State Gov't § 9-2415 (2026)
Title 9. Miscellaneous Executive Agencies
Subtitle 24. Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
§ 9–2415LinkCopy Citation
(a)
After completion of the report required under subsection (b) of this section, the Board may establish criteria for the development of portfolios and separate requirements in the following specialist areas:
(1)
legal settings;
(2)
medical settings;
(3)
educational settings;
(4)
behavioral health settings;
(5)
language pairs other than American Sign Language and spoken English;
(6)
conference interpreting;
(7)
tactile and low–vision sign language interpretation services;
(8)
intralinguistic translations and sign language interpretation; and
(9)
any other specialist areas determined to be necessary by the Board.
(b)
(1)
At least 60 days before the Board promulgates regulations to establish criteria under subsection (a) of this section, the Board shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee, on:
(i)
how national and regional certification standards define or limit specialist areas;
(ii)
the number of interpreters in the State and neighboring states certified in specialist areas;
(iii)
an evaluation of how separate requirements for specialist areas may impact access to interpreter services in each setting; and
(iv)
recommendations on whether, and in what form, specialty licensure requirements should be implemented in the State.
(2)
In completing the report under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Board shall consult with stakeholders, including:
(i)
the Maryland Department of Health;
(ii)
the Maryland Association of the Deaf;
(iii)
the Maryland Hospital Association;
(iv)
interpreters and interpreter agencies;
(v)
the Maryland Judiciary;
(vi)
the Maryland State Department of Education;
(vii)
the Maryland State Education Association;
(viii)
the Public Schools Superintendents’ Association of Maryland;
(ix)
the Maryland Association of Boards of Education; and
(x)
the Maryland Department of Disabilities.
(3)
The Office shall provide staff to assist the Board in completion of the report required under this subsection.
(c)
The Board shall adopt regulations to:
(1)
govern sign language interpretation services provided in a video remote interpreting setting;
(2)
establish licensing and certification standards of interpreting agencies that do business in the State;
(3)
(i)
allow deaf and hard of hearing individuals to indicate whether they prefer sign language interpretation services being provided in a video remote interpreting setting or through in–person interpreting; and
(ii)
require public entities to provide reasonable accommodations to support the preferences indicated by the deaf and hard of hearing individuals under item (i) of this item, to the extent practicable and in compliance with 28 C.F.R. § 35.160 and the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; and
(4)
provide sign language interpretation services in a video remote interpreting setting.