AR HB1502

Requires employees, professional service providers, and volunteers to wear clear face coverings, partially clear face coverings, face shields, or briefly remove masks upon request when interacting with Deaf or hard of hearing individuals during disaster emergencies with face covering requirements.

Defines "reasonable accommodation" to include text messaging, typed messages on electronic devices, whiteboard use, handwritten notes, and any other medium acceptable to the Deaf or hard of hearing individual.

Applies to persons working at hospitals, health care centers, pharmacies, law enforcement agencies, emergency medical service providers, firefighting positions, educational institutions, speech-language-pathology or audiology capacities, and sign language interpreting or translating capacities.

Requires covered persons to allow licensed sign language interpreters to accompany individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing.

Allows complaints to be filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act or with appropriate licensing entities for violations of this section.