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95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2007 and 2008 SB1448
Introduced 2/9/2007, by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: |
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Creates the Access to Governmental Services Act. 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.
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| FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY | |
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A BILL FOR
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SB1448 |
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LRB095 11076 AJO 31402 b |
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| AN ACT concerning access to governmental services.
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| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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| represented in the General Assembly:
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| Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Access |
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| to Governmental Services Act. |
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| Section 5. Definitions. |
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| "Equal access" means to be informed of, participate in, and |
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| benefit from public services offered by a State agency, circuit |
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| court, constitutional office, or a State program at a level |
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| equal to individuals who do not have limited English |
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| proficiency. |
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| "Limited English proficiency" means the inability to |
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| adequately understand or express oneself in the spoken or |
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| written English language. |
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| "Oral language services" includes various methods to |
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| provide verbal information and interpretations, such as staff |
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| interpreters, bilingual staff, telephone interpreter programs, |
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| and private interpreter programs. |
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| "Important documents" means application or informational |
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| materials, websites, notices, and complaint forms offered by |
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| State agencies, constitutional officers, circuit court clerks, |
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| and State programs, as defined by rule by the appropriate State |
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| agency, constitutional officer, circuit court clerk, or State |