LANGUAGE EQUITY & ACCESS ACT House SponsorsRep. Dagmara Avelar-Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez-Theresa Mah-Aarón M. Ortíz-Lakesia Collins, Mark L. Walker, Joyce Mason, Anna Moeller, Jaime M. Andrade, Jr., Eva-Dina Delgado, Margaret Croke, Hoan Huynh, Kelly M. Cassidy, Laura Faver Dias, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Barbara Hernández, Will Guzzardi, Jenn Ladisch Douglass, Rita Mayfield, Suzanne M. Ness, Justin Slaughter, Janet Yang Rohr, Kam Buckner, Kevin John Olickal, Jonathan Carroll, Ann M. Williams and Abdelnasser Rashid Senate Sponsors(Sen. Karina Villa-Rachel Ventura, Mattie Hunter, Celina Villanueva, Mike Porfirio, Mike Simmons, Emil Jones, III, David Koehler, Robert Peters, Robert F. Martwick, Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas, Napoleon Harris, III, Sara Feigenholtz, Natalie Toro, Cristina Castro, Christopher Belt, Michael W. Halpin, Lakesia Collins, Adriane Johnson and Javier L. Cervantes) 1/7/2025HouseSession Sine Die New Act Creates the Office of Language Equity and Access Act. Provides that the Office of Language Equity and Access is created in the Governor's Office of New Americans to ensure equitable and meaningful access to State information, services, programs, and activities for persons who have limited English proficiency. Provides that the Director of the Office shall work with State agencies and use available resources within the Office of New Americans and Office of Equity to ensure that, among other things, each State agency takes reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to services, programs, and activities by persons with limited English proficiency. Provides that the Office shall have a full-time Director who is bilingual and has experience in serving immigrant populations. Describes the duties and responsibilities of the Director. Provides that there shall be a bilingual employment plan, which would require designations of positions as bilingual and result in the hiring of qualified personnel who are bilingual. Provides that the Director shall comply with specified requirements concerning the need for interpreters and translators. Provides that the Director shall develop a template and mechanism for collecting, storing, and analyzing language access plans.House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Language Equity and Access Act. Creates the Division of Language Equity and Access (DLEA) within the Governor's Office of New Americans to lead implementation of language equity and access policy and ensure meaningful access to information, services, programs, and activities for limited English proficient persons. Provides for requirements and duties of the DLEA. Provides that the DLEA shall adopt administrative rules. Establishes the Language Equity and Access Advisory Council for the purposes of advising the Office of Language Equity and Access on certain issues related to language equity. Provides for membership of the Council as well as other requirements. Requires the State to compile a Language Needs Assessment Report, prepare a language access plan, develop a framework to assess State agencies and covered entities, prepare an annual report for the Governor and General Assembly, establish requirements for availability of interpretation and translation services, set standards for adequate staffing of bilingual employees at State agencies and other covered entities, incorporate language equity compliance provisions in State contracts, and ensure persons with limited English proficiency are adequately notified in case of emergencies. Details the requirements for the Statewide Language Use Needs Assessment. Details the requirements for language access plans. Details the requirements for the annual Language Equity and Access Compliance Report to the General Assembly. Provides that the Governor's Office shall provide administrative and other support to the DLEA. Discusses the legislative purpose of the Act and defines terms. Effective July 1, 2023. 2/16/2023HouseFiled with the Clerk by Rep. Dagmara Avelar 2/17/2023HouseFirst Reading 2/17/2023HouseReferred to Rules Committee 2/28/2023HouseAssigned to Immigration & Human Rights Committee 3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Mark L. Walker 3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Joyce Mason 3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Anna Moeller 3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jaime M. Andrade, Jr. 3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Eva-Dina Delgado 3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Margaret Croke 3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz 3/2/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid 3/2/2023HouseRemoved Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz 3/2/2023HouseRemoved Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid 3/8/2023HouseDo Pass / Short Debate Immigration & Human Rights Committee; 008-002-000 3/9/2023HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 3/16/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Hoan Huynh 3/20/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kelly M. Cassidy 3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias 3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz 3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Barbara Hernández 3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Will Guzzardi 3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jenn Ladisch Douglass 3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Rita Mayfield 3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness 3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Justin Slaughter 3/22/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Janet Yang Rohr 3/22/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Dagmara Avelar 3/22/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee 3/22/2023HouseSecond Reading - Short Debate 3/22/2023HouseHeld on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate 3/23/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kam Buckner 3/27/2023HouseRule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee 3/28/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Elizabeth "Lisa" Hernandez 3/28/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah 4/4/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Kevin John Olickal 4/25/2023HouseApproved for Consideration Rules Committee; 005-000-000 4/25/2023HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 4/25/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Immigration & Human Rights Committee 4/25/2023HouseThird Reading Deadline Extended-Rule May 19, 2023 4/26/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Immigration & Human Rights Committee; 007-000-000 4/27/2023HousePlaced on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate 5/3/2023HouseHouse Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted 5/3/2023HousePlaced on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate 5/3/2023HouseThird Reading - Short Debate - Passed 073-034-001 5/3/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Jonathan Carroll 5/3/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Ann M. Williams 5/3/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz 5/3/2023HouseAdded Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Lakesia Collins 5/3/2023HouseChief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Aarón M. Ortíz 5/3/2023HouseChief Co-Sponsor Changed to Rep. Lakesia Collins 5/3/2023HouseAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid 5/4/2023SenateArrive in Senate 5/4/2023SenatePlaced on Calendar Order of First Reading 5/4/2023SenateChief Senate Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa 5/4/2023SenateFirst Reading 5/4/2023SenateReferred to Assignments 5/5/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura 5/8/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mattie Hunter 5/9/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Celina Villanueva 5/9/2023SenateAssigned to State Government 5/9/2023SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 19, 2023 5/9/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Porfirio 5/9/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Mike Simmons 5/9/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Emil Jones, III 5/9/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. David Koehler 5/10/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert Peters 5/10/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Robert F. Martwick 5/10/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina H. Pacione-Zayas 5/11/2023SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 25, 2023 5/11/2023SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 21, 2023 5/12/2023SenateRule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 19, 2023 5/17/2023SenatePostponed - State Government 5/19/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Napoleon Harris, III 5/19/2023SenateRule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 25, 2023 5/24/2023SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Karina Villa 5/24/2023SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Assignments 5/24/2023SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Assignments Refers to State Government 5/24/2023SenateWaive Posting Notice 5/24/2023SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Postponed - State Government 5/24/2023SenatePostponed - State Government 5/26/2023SenateSenate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments 5/26/2023SenateRule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments 10/11/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Sara Feigenholtz 10/19/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Natalie Toro 10/24/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro 10/24/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Christopher Belt 10/24/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Michael W. Halpin 10/25/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Lakesia Collins 10/26/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Adriane Johnson 10/26/2023SenateAdded as Alternate Co-Sponsor Sen. Javier L. Cervantes 1/7/2025HouseSession Sine Die