Amendment #1381 to H4700

Language Access Implementation

Mr. Cabral of New Bedford Moves to amend the bill by adding the following section:

SECTION XXXX. Not less than $8,000,000 shall be expended for state agencies, including but not limited to MassHealth, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Early Education and Care, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Department of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Transitional Assistance, the Department of Unemployment Assistance, the Registry of Motor Vehicles, and the Department of Public Health, to take steps to ensure equal access to state services, programs, and activities serving limited English proficient individuals; provided further that such steps shall include (a) the timely provision of oral interpretation; (b) translation of vital documents and communications related to eligibility, legal rights, privileges, or duties including but not limited to applications, informational materials, notices, and complaint forms; (c) the translation of public facing websites; (d) the hiring and retention of multilingual staff; and (e) the updating and implementation of language access plans; provided further, that the aforementioned state agencies shall each appoint a language access coordinator whose sole responsibilities are to implement the above requirements and to train staff on compliance; provided further, that not later than June 30, 2023, such state agencies shall submit a report to the chairs of the house and senate committees on ways and means and the chairs of the house and senate committee on state administration and regulatory oversight detailing an accounting of all funds expended and steps taken to fulfill the above requirements; and provided further that the federal reimbursement for any expenditure from this item shall not be less than 100%.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1381 to H4700

Language Access Implementation