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Maryland Legislative Session:
ODHH Legislative Updates

We are midway through the 2012 Legislative Session. As we carefully monitor new legislation, our goal is to keep you informed of the bills we are reviewing and the possible impact each new bill may have on the deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing communities.

• State Government - Human Relations - Discrimination in Housing, Employment, and Places of Public Accommodations (HB 183/SB187)
  

  House Bill 183/Senate Bill 187 prohibits internet discrimination via identifies the internet as a place of public accommodation. This legislation has received an unfavorable report in the Health and Government Operations Committee, but hasn't been withdrawn. The Senatorial Judiciary Proceeding Committee (SB187) heard testimony on this bill on February 15th, but no further recommendations have been made.

• Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library (HB390/SB571)
  

  House Bill 390/Senate Bill 571 would require the Division of Library Development and Services in the State Department of Education to establish and coordinate the Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library. The Ways and Means Committee in the House heard testimony on the bill on February 16th and has yet to make a recommendation. The Senate has scheduled a hearing for March 1, 2012.

• Vehicles Law - Distracted Driving - Prohibition (HB552)
  

  House Bill 552 prohibits a person from driving a motor vehicle in an inattentive manner resulting in the unsafe operation of the motor vehicle when the inattention is caused by the driver engaging in specified preoccupying activities. ODHH has asked that the use of American Sign Language be exempted as a "distracting activity". The hearing was held on February 28th, at 1:00pm in the House Environmental Committee and no recommendations have been made. The Senate has not yet introduced this bill.