HB1839ham001 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Maria Antonia Berrios

Filed: 3/9/2011

09700HB1839ham001 LRB097 09725 PJG 51925 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 1839

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 1839 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Equal Access Act.

Section 5. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to ensure that all Illinois residents have equal access to State services and, in particular, that differences in language do not bar access those services.

Section 10. Office of Language Access; creation. The Office of Language Access is created in the office of the Governor to ensure that language is not a barrier to State services.

Section 15. Policy development. The Office of Language Access shall develop consistent policies regarding language access. The Office of Language Access shall monitor implementation of and compliance with those policies. The policies developed by the Office of Language Access shall, at a minimum, (i) set standards for the adequate staffing of bilingual employees at State agencies and (ii) develop requirements for the availability of interpretation and translation services at State agencies.

Section 20. Administrative staffing. The office of the Governor shall provide administrative and other support to the Office of Language Access.

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2011.".