Resolve, to Reestablish the Task Force on Accessibility to Appropriate Communication Methods for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Patients
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2255
Committee: Health and Human Services

Legislative Document
No. 2255
H.P. 1446
House of Representatives, March 6, 2024
Resolve, to Reestablish the Task Force on Accessibility to 
Appropriate Communication Methods for Deaf and Hard-of-
hearing Patients
(EMERGENCY)
Reported by Representative MEYER of Eliot for the Joint Standing Committee on Health 
and Human Services pursuant to Resolve 2023, chapter 97, section 7.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed 
pursuant to Joint Rule 218.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this resolve reestablishes the Task Force on Accessibility to Appropriate 
Communication Methods for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Patients to study accessibility to 
appropriate communication methods for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients in health care 
settings and how that accessibility may be improved; and
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the expiration of the 90-day period in 
order to provide sufficient time for the study to be completed and a report submitted in time 
for submission to the next legislative session; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it
Sec. 1. Task force established.  Resolved:  That the Task Force on Accessibility 
to Appropriate Communication Methods for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Patients, referred 
to in this resolve as "the task force," is established.
Sec. 2. Task force membership.  Resolved: That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, 
the task force consists of 10 members appointed as follows:
1.  One member of the Senate who serves on the Joint Standing Committee on Health 
and Human Services, appointed by the President of the Senate;
2.  One member of the House of Representatives who serves on the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
3.  One member of the public who is a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House;
4.  One member representing the Department of Health and Human Services, office of 
aging and disability services, appointed by the Commissioner of Health and Human 
Services;
5.  One member representing Disability Rights Maine, appointed by the Commissioner 
of Health and Human Services;
6.  One member representing the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of 
Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, appointed by the Commissioner of 
Health and Human Services;
7.  One member who is a practicing American Sign Language interpreter who has 
national certification as a core certification health care interpreter from the Certification 
Commission for Healthcare Interpreters, appointed by the Commissioner of Health and 
Human Services;
8.  One member representing a hospital system with a language access plan that is 
considered an appropriate model for hospitals, appointed by the Commissioner of Health 
and Human Services;
9.  One member representing the University of Maine System with national 
certification as a core certification health care interpreter from the Certification 
Commission for Healthcare Interpreters and experience in American Sign Language 
medical interpreter training, appointed by the Commissioner of Health and Human 
Services; and
10.  One member representing the Department of Labor who works with compliance 
issues regarding deaf and hard-of-hearing persons, appointed by the Commissioner of 
Labor.
Sec. 3. Chairs.  Resolved: That the Senate member is the Senate chair and the House 
of Representatives member is the House chair of the task force.
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force.  Resolved: That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force.  If 30 days or more after 
the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the 
chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the task 
force to meet and conduct its business.
Sec. 5. Duties.  Resolved: That the task force shall study accessibility to appropriate 
communication methods for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients in health care settings and 
how that accessibility may be improved.  The task force shall consider, but is not limited 
to considering, the following:
1.  The availability of American Sign Language interpreters in health care settings;
2.  The availability of other communication technologies in health care settings, such 
as video interpreters, automatically generated voice transcriptions and automatically 
generated captions;
3.  Staff education and training programs on overcoming barriers to health care 
experienced by deaf and hard-of-hearing patients; and
4.  Successful models for overcoming barriers to health care experienced by deaf and 
hard-of-hearing patients.
Sec. 6. Staff assistance.  Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the task force, except that Legislative Council staff support 
is not authorized when the Legislature is in regular or special session.
Sec. 7. Report.  Resolved: That, no later than November 6, 2024, the task force shall 
submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over health and human services matters.  The joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters is authorized to 
report out legislation related to the report to the 132nd Legislature in 2025.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve is reported out by the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services pursuant to Resolve 2023, chapter 97. The resolve reestablishes the Task Force 
on Accessibility to Appropriate Communication Methods for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing 
Patients to study accessibility to appropriate communication methods for deaf and hard-of-
hearing patients in health care settings and how that accessibility may be improved. The 
task force is required to submit a report and suggested legislation by November 6, 2024 to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human 
services matters, which is authorized to report out legislation based on the report to the 
132nd Legislature in 2025.