94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2005 and 2006
SB0334

 

Introduced 2/15/2005, by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    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.


LRB094 05047 AJO 35082 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0334 LRB094 05047 AJO 35082 b

1     AN ACT concerning access to governmental services.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Access
5 to Governmental Services Act.
 
6     Section 5. Definitions.
7     "Equal access" means to be informed of, participate in, and
8 benefit from public services offered by a State agency, circuit
9 court, constitutional office, or a State program at a level
10 equal to individuals who do not have limited English
11 proficiency.
12     "Limited English proficiency" means the inability to
13 adequately understand or express oneself in the spoken or
14 written English language.
15     "Oral language services" includes various methods to
16 provide verbal information and interpretations, such as staff
17 interpreters, bilingual staff, telephone interpreter programs,
18 and private interpreter programs.
19     "Important documents" means application or informational
20 materials, websites, notices, and complaint forms offered by
21 State agencies, constitutional officers, circuit court clerks,
22 and State programs. "Important documents" does not include
23 applications and examinations related to the licensure,
24 certification, or registration of businesses and
25 professionals.
 
26     Section 10. Language access required.
27     (a) Each State agency, constitutional officer, circuit
28 court clerk, and State program shall take reasonable steps to
29 provide equal access to public services for individuals with
30 limited English proficiency.
31     (b) Reasonable steps to provide equal access to public

 

 

SB0334 - 2 - LRB094 05047 AJO 35082 b

1 service include, but are not limited to:
2         (1) In-house oral language services for individuals
3     with limited English proficiency if contact between a State
4     agency, constitutional officer, circuit court clerk, or
5     State program and individuals with limited English
6     proficiency is on a weekly or more frequent basis.
7         (2) The translation of important documents ordinarily
8     provided to the public in any language spoken by any
9     limited English proficient population that constitutes at
10     least 3% of the overall population within the geographic
11     area served by a local office of a State agency,
12     constitutional officer, or county of a circuit court, as
13     measured by the U.S. Census. Specifically, the following
14     are important documents to be translated:
15             (A) All circuit court forms, including self-help
16         forms, and applications and instructions for those
17         forms and applications.
18             (B) All applications for State benefits, such as
19         welfare and health care, and instructions for those
20         applications.
21             (C) All public outreach materials, such as
22         pamphlets, posters, and other written materials,
23         produced by State agencies.
24         (3) Any additional methods or means necessary to
25     achieve equal access to public services.
26     (c) Each State agency, constitutional officer, circuit
27 court clerk, and State program shall adopt rules regarding the
28 requirements of this Section at least 6 months prior to the
29 date that this Act takes effect, or as soon thereafter as
30 possible.