The "Right to Mental Health for Individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing Act" seeks to improve access to mental health services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, recognizing their unique communication needs. The bill mandates that mental health professionals deliver services in a culturally affirmative and linguistically appropriate manner, utilizing the clients' primary communication methods, which may include sign language. It also allows for interpreter services to be provided through telemedicine or other remote technologies if an in-person interpreter is unavailable. Clients have the right to decline these services voluntarily without penalty, and mental health professionals must secure a signed waiver if a client refuses all offered services.

Additionally, the bill establishes a deaf services coordinator within the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to oversee the implementation of these provisions, ensuring adequate resources and training for mental health professionals. The DMHAS and the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH) are tasked with recruiting certified professionals and developing strategies for statewide access to services. An advisory committee will be formed to provide guidance on the act's implementation, emphasizing the importance of culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health care for this underserved population.