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LAWS OF MARYLAND

Ch. 781

CHAPTER 781

(House Bill 2086)

AN ACT concerning

Deaf Persons - Tell Free Teletype Machines

FOR the purpose of requiring that teletype machines, or any
other machine which allows communication with deaf or
hearing impaired persons, shall be provided by the
State, County, and Baltimore City Governments for
emergency police, fire, and rescue services; and
providing that the telephone number for these services

shall be toll free.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 78A - Public Works

Section 51A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1975 Replacement Volume and 1977 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article 78A - Public Works

51A.

(a) The Secretary of the Department of General
Services shall, upon the joint recommendation of the
Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and
the State Superintendent of Schools, provide teletype
machines in central locations in agencies of State and local
government and other public facilities as recommended for
the use of deaf persons as provided for in the budget.
THESE LOCATIONS SHALL INCLUDE SERVICE FOR EMERGENCY POLICE,
FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES.

(b) These machines shall be connected electronically
so as to provide a means of communication between deaf
persons and the offices of major public and private
facilities equipped with these machines within a toll-free
telephone district.

(C) TELETYPE MACHINES, OR ANY OTHER MACHINE WHICH

ALLOWS COMMUNICATION WITH DEAF OR HEARING IMPAIRED PERSONS,

SHALL BE PROVIDED BY STATE, COUNTY, AND BALTIMORE CITY

GOVERNMENTS FOR EMERGENCY POLICE, FIRE, AND RESCUE SERVICES.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THIS SERVICE SHALL BE TOLL FREE.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act

shall take effect July 1, 1978.