HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                         59

(C) (1) EACH HOSPITAL SHALL HAVE A COMMITTEE OF AT LEAST 3
PERSONS TO ASSESS THE LANGUAGE COMPETENCY OF NEW AND PRESENT
PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBERS WHO ORALLY COMMUNICATE WITH PATIENTS
AND WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY THE HOSPITAL.

(2) THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD OF EACH HOSPITAL SHALL
APPOINT THE COMMITTEE.

(3) EACH COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF AT LEAST:

(I) A NURSE;

(II) A PHYSICIAN; AND

(III) A HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATOR.

(D) (1) NEW PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBERS WHO ORALLY

COMMUNICATE WITH PATIENTS AND WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN A HOSPITAL WHO
DO NOT POSSESS THE NECESSARY LEVEL OF LANGUAGE COMPETENCY SHALL
TAKE REMEDIAL ENGLISH COURSES AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT.

(2) PRESENT PROFESSIONAL STAFF MEMBERS WHO ORALLY
COMMUNICATE WITH PATIENTS AND WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN A HOSPITAL WHO
DO NOT POSSESS THE NECESSARY LEVEL OF LANGUAGE COMPETENCY SHALL
TAKE REMEDIAL ENGLISH COURSES AS A CONDITION OF CONTINUING
EMPLOYMENT.

(E) (1) (I) ALL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE AUTHORIZED TO
PRACTICE THEIR PROFESSION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE HEALTH

OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE SHALL DEMONSTRATE TO THE APPROPRIATE

LICENSING BOARDS THAT THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL HAS COMPETENCY IN
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE FOR THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT ARE RELATED TO
PATIENT CARE.

(II) THE RESPECTIVE LICENSING BOARDS SHALL

DETERMINE THE FORM OF THE DEMONSTRATION UNDER THIS PARAGRAPH,
INCLUDING A CERTIFICATE OF GRADUATION FROM AN ENGLISH-SPEAKING
PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OR OTHER INSTITUTE OF LEARNING.

(2) A HOSPITAL OR RELATED INSTITUTION MAY NOT GRANT
PRIVILEGES OR EMPLOY A HEALTH PROFESSIONAL UNTIL A RESPECTIVE
LICENSING BOARD APPROVES THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO BE COMPETENT
IN THE ORAL USE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE THAT IS NECESSARY FOR THE
EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES IN COMMUNICATING WITH PATIENTS.

(3) BY JULY 1, 1986, EACH CURRENTLY EMPLOYED HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL MUST BE IN POSSESSION OF AN APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATE
FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE LICENSING BOARD.

FOR the purpose of requiring the State Board of Examiners of
Nurses, the State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, the
State Board of Medical Examiners, and the State Board of
Podiatry Examiners to require that an applicant for a
license to practice certain health occupations demonstrate
an oral competency in the English language; providing that