Current with changes from the 2024 Legislative Session
Section 9-2418 - Licensing requirement(a) Except as otherwise provided in this part, an individual shall be licensed by the Board before the individual may: (1) provide sign language interpretation services in the State; or(2) represent to the public, by description of services or use of a title or designation, that the individual is authorized to provide sign language interpretation services in the State.(b) This section does not apply to an individual who:(1) provides sign language interpretation services as part of a supervised internship or practicum for an accredited institution of higher education and does not provide sign language interpretation services in the following settings: (i) a behavioral health setting, unless the individual is accompanied by a licensed sign language interpreter;(ii) an emergency medical setting, unless the individual is accompanied by a licensed sign language interpreter;(iii) a legal setting; or(iv) a school setting, unless the individual is accompanied by a licensed sign language interpreter;(2) provides sign language interpretation services as part of a Video Relay Service;(3) holds a nationally or regionally recognized certification in sign language interpreting and does not provide sign language interpretation services in the State for more than 80 hours each calendar year, if the individual: (i) self-certifies eligibility for this exemption;(ii) notifies the Board of each sign language interpreting assignment within 10 days after completing the assignment; and(iii) satisfies any other criteria established by the Board;(4) provides sign language interpretation services as an uncompensated volunteer and in a setting in which a sign language interpreter is not otherwise required by law;(5) provides sign language interpretation services to prevent undue harm in the event of an emergency until a licensed sign language interpreter becomes available; or(6) interprets between a pair of sign languages for which there is no nationally or regionally recognized certification.Added by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 270, Sec. 3, eff. 10/1/2023.Added by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 269, Sec. 3, eff. 10/1/2023.