Statewide Government Language Access Assessment

The bill requires the department of personnel (department), in collaboration with the office of new Americans, to conduct or contract to conduct a statewide language access assessment (assessment). The assessment covers all principal departments except the department of state, the department of the treasury, and the department of law (principal departments). The assessment must identify:

• The needs of principal departments to meet the language access standards outlined in the language access universal policy, including requests for guidance, training, and technical assistance;
• Relevant language access materials from principal departments, including language access plans, position descriptions related to language access, procedures related to language access, and technical assistance or training materials;
• Information on current language services contracts, expenditures, and funding sources related to language access;
• The public-facing responsibilities of principal departments, including designating which principal departments and their subcontractors do and do not have frequent contact with linguistically diverse individuals; and
• Other covered entities that may be subject to the standards outlined in the language access universal policy.

The department may enter into an agreement with a third-party entity to conduct all or part of the assessment. The third-party entity must have demonstrated expertise in working with state governments on language access initiatives, such as developing language access policies or plans.

At the conclusion of the assessment and not later than December 31, 2026, the department, the office of new Americans, or the third-party entity is required to create a report covering the findings of the assessment and recommendations concerning:

• Improving efficiency, increasing quality of service, reducing cost, avoiding duplicative work, building on existing best practices, and minimizing administrative burden with respect to the provision of linguistically accessible government services and programs to linguistically diverse individuals;
• Addressing gaps and improving meaningful service through changes to language access services, practices, and procedures;
• Evaluating potential technological options for increasing language access, such as artificial intelligence; and
• Determining what infrastructure is needed to ensure full and sustainable implementation of the standards outlined in the language access universal policy.

The department must include a summary of the report and assessment in its January 2027 presentation to legislative oversight committees required by the "State Measurement for Accountable, Responsive, and Transparent (SMART) Government Act".

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)