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Ch. 141
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PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor
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Article - State Government
SUBTITLE 11. LANGUAGE ACCESS EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES FOR
INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
10-1101.
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT THE INABILITY TO SPEAK, UNDERSTAND,
OR READ THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS A BARRIER THAT PREVENTS ACCESS TO
PUBLIC SERVICES PROVIDED BY STATE DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND PROGRAMS,
AND THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH THESE ENTITIES ARE
ESSENTIAL TO THE WELFARE OF MARYLAND RESIDENTS. IT IS THE POLICY OF THE
STATE THAT STATE DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND PROGRAMS SHALL PROVIDE
EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES TO PERSONS FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED
ENGLISH PROFICIENCY.
10-1102.
(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.
(B) "EQUAL ACCESS" MEANS TO BE INFORMED OF, PARTICIPATE IN, AND
BENEFIT FROM PUBLIC SERVICES OFFERED BY A STATE DEPARTMENT, AGENCY, OR
PROGRAM, AT A LEVEL EQUAL TO ENGLISH PROFICIENT PERSONS INDIVIDUALS.
(C) "FORMS AND DOCUMENTS" MEANS ALL APPLICATIONS, OR
INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS, NOTICES, AND COMPLAINT FORMS OFFERED BY STATE
DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND PROGRAMS.
(D) (C) "LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY" MEANS THE INABILITY TO
ADEQUATELY UNDERSTAND OR EXPRESS ONESELF IN THE SPOKEN OR WRITTEN
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
(D) "ORAL LANGUAGE SERVICES" INCLUDES VARIOUS METHODS TO PROVIDE
VERBAL INFORMATION AND INTERPRETATION SUCH AS STAFF INTERPRETERS,
BILINGUAL STAFF, TELEPHONE INTERPRETER PROGRAMS, AND PRIVATE
INTERPRETER PROGRAMS.
(E) "PROGRAM" MEANS ALL OF THE OPERATIONS OF A STATE DEPARTMENT,
STATE AGENCY, OR ANY OTHER INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE STATE.
(F) (1) "VITAL DOCUMENTS" MEANS ALL APPLICATIONS, OR
INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS, NOTICES, AND COMPLAINT FORMS OFFERED BY STATE
DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES, AND PROGRAMS.
(2) " VITAL DOCUMENTS" DOES NOT INCLUDE APPLICATIONS AND
EXAMINATIONS RELATED TO THE LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, OR REGISTRATION
UNDER THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE, FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ARTICLE,
BUSINESS OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS ARTICLE, AND BUSINESS REGULATION
ARTICLE WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
MENTAL HYGIENE OR THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LICENSING, AND REGULATION.
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- 1457 -
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