98C058BA16A0086887258BBE00533361 Hearing Summary CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf PUBLICBILL SUMMARY For LANGUAGE ACCESS IN THE COLORADO BLUE BOOKINTERIM COMMITTEE LANGUAGE ACCESS ADVISORY BOARDDate Oct 22, 2024 Location SCR 357 Language Access in the Colorado Blue Book - Committee Discussion Only Attachment Tag File Name Attachment A https://www.leg.state.co.us/CLICS/CLICS2024A/commsumm.nsf/0/18E126B76A8C...$File/Attachment A - Language Access in the Colorado Blue Book.pdf?OpenElement Attachment A - Language Access in the Colorado Blue Book.pdf 09:08:49 AM Julia Jackson, Legislative Council Staff (LCS), began her presentation on Language Access in the Colorado Blue Book. Slides for this presentation are available as Attachment A. She discussed the constitutional and statutory laws that require certain information in the book. She discussed the process of dividing the book into regions in a judicial election year. All blue book materials are also available online, and every associated document that is posted online is also translated into Spanish. 09:13:51 AM Ms. Jackson explained the history of Blue Book mailing and the various methods LCS has used to distribute the booklet in Spanish. She provided an overview of Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), and how it is used to determine where to distribute ballot information in Spanish. The VRA has a formula for determining when a jurisdiction is covered. The Spanish covered counties since 2021 are Adams, Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Denver, and Saguache. La Plata and Montezuma counties are designated for Ute language coverage, which is provided orally by those counties. VRA determinations are updated every five years. 09:18:46 AM Ms. Jackson discussed House Bill 21-1011, which created a multi-lingual ballot hotline at the Secretary of State's office and set a new state formula for language coverage. However, the bill did not impact the ballot information booklet or newspaper publication. The state formula covers Spanish in 20 counties, including the 6 VRA counties. Ms. Jackson also explained the constitutional requirement that LCS print the text and titles of statewide ballot measures in newspapers, which cost about $775,000 in 2024. In 2024, the cost for the Blue Book was $2.6 million. She explained the additional costs of a bilingual booklet, as well as publication constraints. 09:24:52 AM Ms. Jackson highlighted comparisons from Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. By and large, these other states mail language materials through various systems, such as upon request or through a checkbox on voter registration materials. Ms. Jackson concluded her presentation with questions from the committee, including questions about where bilingual books are mailed, expanding to additional counties, what information could potentially only be published online, how to more closely review translations, and what advice the committee would give if additional languages were covered. 09:28:57 AM Committee discussion ensued. Commissioner Lopez discussed the possibility of restricting printed materials to upon request, primarily for the cost consideration and because it is what other similar states do. Ms. Carriero-Contreras inquired about translation costs, and potential costs of expanding to other languages, as well as questions about the Ute language, and the SOS multilingual hotline. Senator Rich asked a question about data on voters that use a language other than English. Ms. Jackson deferred to the Secretary of State and other future presenters. Representative Lindsay asked for additional research on the California model of providing a checkbox on voter registration. Chair Rutinel asked if there is any data on satisfaction rates of consumers using these ballot materials in other states. 09:36:04 AM Representative Lindsay and Senator Gonzales discussed their appreciation for the printed Blue Book. Senator Gonzales asked, in regards to HB21-1011, what resources are available to a voter with a disability or different communication mode. Ms. Jackson highlighted the Talking Book Library's work to read the Blue Book aloud as well as the accessibility features available at Voter Service and Polling Centers.
