Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

Filed: 3/14/2007

 

 


 

 


 
09500SB1448sam002 LRB095 11076 AJO 33603 a

1
AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 1448

2     AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 1448, AS AMENDED,
3 by deleting everything after the enacting clause with the
4 following:
 
5     "Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
6 Access to Governmental Services Act.
 
7     Section 5. Definitions.
8     "Equal access" means to be informed of, participate in, and
9 benefit from public services offered by a State agency,
10 constitutional office, or a State program at a level equal to
11 individuals who do not have limited English 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

 

 

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1 interpreters, bilingual staff, telephone interpreter programs,
2 and private interpreter programs.
3     "Important documents" means application or informational
4 materials, websites, notices, and complaint forms offered by
5 State agencies, constitutional officers, and State programs,
6 as defined by rule by the appropriate State agency,
7 constitutional officer, or State program. "Important
8 documents" does not include applications and examinations
9 related to the licensure, certification, or registration of
10 businesses and professionals.
11     "State program" means any program administered by a State
12 agency, but does not include any program administered, in whole
13 or in part, by a unit of local government or a school district,
14 regardless of whether State funds are expended under the
15 program.
16     "Sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in
17 public contact positions" means the number of qualified
18 bilingual persons required in order to provide the same level
19 of service to non-English-speaking persons as is available to
20 English-speaking persons seeking the same service.
 
21     Section 10. Language access required.
22     (a) Each State agency, constitutional officer, and State
23 program shall take reasonable steps to provide equal access to
24 public services for individuals with limited English
25 proficiency.

 

 

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1     (b) Reasonable steps to provide equal access to public
2 services include, but are not limited to:
3         (1) Having a sufficient number of qualified bilingual
4     persons in public contact positions or as interpreters to
5     assist persons in public contact positions in providing
6     services to individuals with limited English proficiency
7     where there is documented substantial need due to contact
8     between a State agency, constitutional officer, or State
9     program and individuals with limited English proficiency.
10         (2) Translating important documents ordinarily
11     provided to the public into any language spoken by any
12     limited English proficient population that constitutes at
13     least 3% of the overall population of the State as measured
14     by the U.S. Census.
15     (c) Each State agency, constitutional officer, and State
16 program shall adopt rules regarding the requirements of this
17 Section not more than 6 months after the date that this Act
18 takes effect, or as soon thereafter as possible.
19     (d) The Illinois Human Rights Commission shall implement a
20 process to address disputes arising under this Act, including,
21 but not limited to, disputes concerning the interpretation of
22 "important documents" and "sufficient number of qualified
23 bilingual persons in public contact positions", not less than 6
24 months after the date that this Act takes effect, or as soon
25 thereafter as possible.".