Resolve, to Establish the Task Force on Accessibility to Appropriate Communication Methods for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Patients
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0976
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: DODGE, BALDACCI, ANKELES, GOLEK, PLUECKER, RISEMAN, WILLIAMS, ZEIGLER, GROHOSKI, RAFFERTY

Legislative Document
No. 976
H.P. 623
House of Representatives, March 2, 2023
Resolve, to Establish the Task Force on Accessibility to Appropriate 
Communication Methods for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Patients
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DODGE of Belfast.
Cosponsored by Senator BALDACCI of Penobscot and
Representatives: ANKELES of Brunswick, GOLEK of Harpswell, PLUECKER of Warren, 
RISEMAN of Harrison, WILLIAMS of Bar Harbor, ZEIGLER of Montville, Senators: 
GROHOSKI of Hancock, RAFFERTY of York.
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 7 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 representing the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of 
Aging and Disability Services, appointed by the Commissioner of Health and Human 
Services;
4.  One member representing Disability Rights Maine, appointed by the Commissioner 
of Health and Human Services;
5.  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;
6.  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; and
7.  One member of the public, appointed by the Speaker of the House.
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, 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 December 6, 2023, the task force 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human 
Services.  The Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services is authorized to 
report out legislation related to the report to the Second Regular Session of the 131st 
Legislature.
SUMMARY
This resolve establishes the Task Force on Accessibility to Appropriate 
Communication Methods for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Patients, which is directed 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 December 6, 2023 to the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, which is authorized to report out 
legislation based on the report to the Second Regular Session of the 131st Legislature.