Section 20-306 - Closed-captioning activation. - Maryland Statutes

§ 20-306. Closed-captioning activation.
 

(a)  Definitions.-  

(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 

(2) "Closed captioning" means a transcript or dialog of the audio portion of a television program that is displayed on a television receiver screen when the user activates the feature. 

(3) "Closed-captioning television receiver" means a receiver of television programming that has the ability to display closed captioning, including a television, digital set top box, and any other technology capable of displaying closed captioning. 

(4) "Public area" means a part of a place of public accommodation that is open to the general public. 

(5) "Regular hours" means the hours of any day in which a place of public accommodation is open to members of the general public. 

(b)  In general.- On request, a place of public accommodation may not fail to keep closed captioning activated on any closed-captioning television receiver that is in use during regular hours in any public area. 

(c)  Exception.- This section does not require a place of public accommodation to make closed captioning available in a public area of the place of public accommodation if: 

(1) no television receiver of any kind is available in the public area; or 

(2) the only public television receiver available in the public area is not a closed-captioning television receiver. 
 

[2010, chs. 213, 214.]