Bill Status of SB 334   94th General Assembly

Short Description:  GOVERNMENT ACCESS- LANGUAGE

Senate Sponsors
Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

House Sponsors
(Rep. William Delgado-Michelle Chavez-Charles E. Jefferson-Harry Osterman)


Last Action  View All Actions

DateChamber Action
  1/9/2007SenateSession Sine Die

Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
New Act

Synopsis As Introduced
Creates the Access to Governmental Services Act. Requires each constitutional officer, State agency, circuit court clerk, and State program to provide equal access to public services for individuals with limited English proficiency. Provides definitions of "equal access", "limited English proficiency", "oral language services", and "important documents". Reasonable steps to provide equal access to public service includes, but is not limited to: in-house oral language services for individuals with limited English proficiency if the agency or officer has contact at least weekly with individuals with limited English proficiency; translation of important documents ordinarily provided to the public must be provided in any language spoken by at least 3% of the population within the geographic area served by a local office of a State agency, constitutional officer, or county as measured by the U.S. Census; and additional methods necessary to achieve equal access.

Senate Committee Amendment No. 1
Amends the Access to Governmental Services Act. Provides that each State agency, constitutional officer, circuit court clerk, and State program shall adopt rules concerning the Act not less than 6 months after the Act takes effect (now, at least 6 months prior to when Act takes effect).

Senate Committee Amendment No. 2
Defines "State program" to mean any program administered by a State agency, but not including any program administered in whole or in part by a unit of local government or school district, regardless of whether State funds are expanded under the program.

 Fiscal Note (Illinois Commerce Commission)
 The agency will likely have to hire at least five employees with extensive language expertise. The agency estimates that at a minimum it will incur an estimated annual increase in costs of $372,000 to implement this legislation were it to become law. This estimate includes salaries, fringe benefits, equipment, and commodities for agency staff members.

Senate Floor Amendment No. 3
Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Access to Governmental Services Act. Requires each constitutional officer, State agency, circuit court clerk, and State program to take reasonable steps to provide equal access to public services for individuals with limited English proficiency, including: (i) having a sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions or as interpreters and (ii) translation of important documents ordinarily provided to the public into any language spoken by at least 3% of the overall population of the State, as measured by the U.S. Census. Requires the Illinois Human Rights Commission to implement a process to address disputes arising under the Act.

 Fiscal Note (S-AM 1 & 2) (Dept. of Children & Family Services)
 This legislation could require the Department to provide translation of documents for 3 or 4 additional languages than the Department already provides. The cost of these translation services could cost between $120,000 and $600,000 depending upon the number of languages and the scope of documents. This would be a one-time expense, with smaller ongoing costs to update the documents in future years.

 Fiscal Note (Department of Public Health)
 Senate Bill 334, at a minimum it will incur an estimated annual increase in cost of $433,000 to implement this legislation were it to become law. This estimate includes salaries, fringe benefits, equipment, and commodities for agency staff members. As well as additional contractual costs as a result of increased usage of translator services.

 Fiscal Note (Illinois Arts Council)
 The Illinois Arts Council does not have weekly contact with their constituents. In the past year the Illinois Arts Council had two instances where they hired translators for interpretation purposes. The cost was approximately $2,500 each time.

 Fiscal Note (Department of Central Management Services)
 CMS anticipates that the fiscal impact of Senate Bill 334 is approximately $1,500,000.

 Fiscal Note (Department of Public Aid)
 The exact fiscal impact is not known, but could include some additional costs. The Agency already has bilingual staff and also prints forms in foreign languages. Additional costs could result if interpreters and forms are required for a language not currently accommodated.

House Amendment No. 1
Deletes everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes: Provides that the Act applies to executive branch State agencies created under the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois (instead of to each constitutional officer, State agency, circuit court clerk, and State program). Redefines terms. Requires language access in an office in each county where the number of residents in a single language group is more than 5% of all county residents. Provides that the Illinois Human Rights Commission's process to address disputes must address disputes concerning agency determinations of the offices where the services are provided. Makes other changes.

Actions 
DateChamber Action
  2/15/2005SenateFiled with Secretary by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval
  2/15/2005SenateFirst Reading
  2/15/2005SenateReferred to Rules
  2/17/2005SenateAssigned to State Government
  2/24/2005SenatePostponed - State Government
  3/1/2005SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval
  3/1/2005SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules
  3/2/2005SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to State Government
  3/3/2005SenatePostponed - State Government
  3/9/2005SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval
  3/9/2005SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules
  3/9/2005SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to State Government
  3/10/2005SenatePostponed - State Government
  3/10/2005SenateFiscal Note Filed from the Illinois Commerce Commission.
  3/16/2005SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted
  3/16/2005SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted
  3/17/2005SenateDo Pass as Amended State Government; 005-003-001
  3/17/2005SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 6, 2005
  4/5/2005SenateFiscal Note Requested by Sen. Dale E. Risinger
  4/6/2005SenateSecond Reading
  4/6/2005SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 7, 2005
  4/11/2005SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval
  4/11/2005SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules
  4/11/2005SenateFiscal Note Filed from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
  4/12/2005SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to State Government
  4/12/2005SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommend Do Adopt State Government; 006-003-000
  4/13/2005SenateFiscal Note Filed as amended by Senate Amendments 1 and 3, from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
  4/13/2005SenateFiscal Note Filed from the Illinois Arts Council.
  4/13/2005SenateFiscal Note Filed from the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.
  4/14/2005SenateRecalled to Second Reading
  4/14/2005SenateSenate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted; Sandoval
  4/14/2005SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading
  4/14/2005SenateThird Reading - Passed; 034-017-001
  4/14/2005HouseArrived in House
  4/14/2005HousePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading
  4/15/2005HouseChief House Sponsor Rep. Harry Osterman
  4/15/2005HouseFirst Reading
  4/15/2005HouseReferred to Rules Committee
  4/20/2005HouseAssigned to Executive Committee
  4/25/2005HouseFiscal Note Filed
  5/3/2005HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Chavez
  5/3/2005HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles E. Jefferson
  5/13/2005HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
  5/30/2005HouseFinal Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2005
  5/30/2005HouseAssigned to State Government Administration Committee
  5/30/2005HouseAlternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. William Delgado
  5/30/2005HouseAdded Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Harry Osterman
  5/30/2005HouseMotion Filed to Suspend Rule 25 Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie
  5/30/2005HouseMotion to Suspend Rule 25 - Prevailed 063-048-000
  5/30/2005HouseDo Pass / Short Debate State Government Administration Committee; 009-000-000
  5/30/2005HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
  5/30/2005HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate
  5/30/2005HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
  5/31/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. William Delgado
  5/31/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
  5/31/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 003-002-000
  5/31/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. William Delgado
  5/31/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
  5/31/2005HouseHouse Amendment No. 1 Adopted by Voice Vote
  5/31/2005HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate
  5/31/2005HouseFiscal Note Requested by Rep. William B. Black; As Amended by HA 1
  5/31/2005HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
  1/9/2007SenateSession Sine Die

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