1. A. Interpreter and Other Accommodations.

   1. (1) If a party or witness cannot adequately hear, speak, or understand the spoken or written English language the Commission shall provide an interpreter or other reasonable accommodation service necessary for the party or witness to participate fully in the Commission proceedings.
   2. (2) If a party, witness or individual having business with the Commission requires another form of accommodation to participate in Commission proceedings, the Commission shall take reasonable steps to provide a reasonable accommodation for the individual.

2. B. Request Required.

   1. (1) Within 10 days of the date the Commission provides notice that issues have been filed, an individual requiring an interpreter or other accommodation shall make a request to the Commission Interpreter Program Office that specifies:

      1. (a) The identity of the individual requiring the service;
      2. (b) Date and location of hearing, if known;
      3. (c) The language or other accommodation service being requested;
      4. (d) Contact information for the service/accommodation requestor or their representative; and
      5. (e) Any other information that may assist the Commission in providing the requested interpreter service or accommodation.

   2. (2) Unless represented by counsel or registered with CompHub, an individual requiring an interpreter or other accommodation shall request an interpreter or other accommodation by:

      1. (a) Telephoning the Commission Interpreter Program Office telephone line available on the Commission website; or
      2. (b) Telephoning the Commission's main telephone line through the TTY service through Maryland Relay available on the Commission's website.
   3. (3) If represented by counsel or registered with CompHub, an individual requiring an interpreter or other accommodation shall request an interpreter or other accommodation by using CompHub.

   4. (4) Upon receipt of a timely request for services, the Commission Interpreter Program Office shall:

      1. (a) Schedule an interpreter, or accommodation service; or
      2. (b) Engage in a dialogue about the requested accommodation.
3. C. Except as provided in §D of this regulation, the Commission shall pay the fee for interpreter or other reasonable accommodation service requested pursuant to this regulation.
4. D. Notification of Cancellation and Fees. An individual who has scheduled an interpreter or accommodation service under §B(2) of this regulation may cancel the requested service by notifying the Commission Interpreter Program Office, in the manner prescribed by the Commission, that the requested service is no longer required.

5. E. An individual may be assessed the service minimum fee if:

   1. (1) A matter is resolved more than 2 days prior to the hearing; and
   2. (2) The service is not cancelled.
6. F. A party may not provide his or her own interpreter.

Authority: Health-General Article, §§4-303 and 4-305;
Labor and Employment Article, §§9-309, 9-310, 9-311, 9-602, 9-625, 9-635, 9-701, 9-717, 9-720, 9-721, 9-726, 9-731, and 9-739; Annotated Code of Maryland

Effective date:

Regulation .01 adopted as an emergency provision effective August 1, 1987 (14:17 Md. R. 1869); emergency status expired July 31, 1988

Regulation .01 adopted effective August 1, 1988 (15:14 Md. R. 1655)

Regulation .01 amended effective August 1, 1991 (18:13 Md. R. 1484)

Regulation .01 repealed and new Regulation .01 adopted effective July 1, 1996 (23:12 Md. R. 872)

Regulation .01 amended effective September 1, 2004 (31:13 Md. R. 995)

Regulation .01 amended as an emergency provision effective February 1, 2006 (33:5 Md. R. 517); amended permanently effective June 5, 2006 (33:11 Md. R. 951)

Regulation .02 adopted as an emergency provision effective August 31, 2001 (28:19 Md. R. 1681); adopted permanently effective October 29, 2001 (28:21 Md. R. 1858)

Regulations .01—.02 repealed and new Regulations .01—.08 adopted effective March 24, 2008 (35:6 Md. R. 699)

Regulation .03F amended as an emergency provision effective April 4, 2008, (35:9 Md. R. 895); amended permanently effective September 8, 2008 (35:18 Md. R. 1501)

Regulation .03G amended effective March 5, 2012 (39:4 Md. R. 338)

Regulations .01—.08, Guide of Medical and Surgical Fees, recodified from COMAR 14.09.03 to COMAR 14.09.08, Guide of Medical and Surgical Fees, effective March 3, 2014 (41:4 Md. R. 304)

Regulations .01—.15, Hearing Procedures adopted effective March 3, 2014 (41:4 Md. R. 304)

Regulation .02C amended effective April 8, 2019 (46:7 Md. R. 370)

Regulation .05 amended effective September 15, 2014 (41:18 Md. R. 1010)

Chapter revised effective October 18, 2021 (48:21 Md. R. 890)