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Legislative committee hears Language Access Advisory Board recommendations and a request to fund a statewide plan
Summary
Representative Manny Rutanel presented the Language Access Advisory Board's interim report and asked the Executive Committee to designate money from the legislative department cash fund to pay for a statewide needs assessment and a language access plan; committee members asked staff to estimate costs and return with options.
Representative Manny Rutanel, a member of the Colorado House, presented the Language Access Advisory Board's interim report to the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council and asked the committee to designate funds from the legislative department cash fund to pay for a statewide language access plan and needs assessment.
The board was created "pursuant to House Bill 20 four-thirteen 68," Rutanel said, and met four times during the 2024 interim with community groups, tribal leaders, language-access experts and members of the public. The report included five major recommendations: accurately documenting community input; conducting a comprehensive statewide needs assessment; developing a legislative language access plan (LAP); expanding accessibility of the Blue Book, including automatic bilingual distribution in Voting Rights Act counties and multiple translation access points (QR code, hotline, online request); and professionalizing translation and interpretation services, including exploring state credentialing for interpreters and translators.
"Language should never be a wall between our people and their government. It should be a bridge, and together, I think we can build that bridge," Representative Manny Rutanel said, summarizing the board's findings and urging initial funding to get a needs assessment started.
Committee members asked for cost estimates and whether the work should be done by legislative staff or contracted. Rutanel proposed either using in-house staff or hiring a private contractor to complete the needs assessment and plan. Natalie Cassell of Legislative Council staff said staff or a contractor would need clear direction from the elected members and that staff would work closely with the committee on scope and next steps. No appropriation amount was specified during the discussion.
Several members raised ideas flagged in the report, including providing Spanish-language audio for key hearings, investigating AI-assisted translation as a supplementary tool, and prioritizing plain-language summaries in both English and translated versions to increase accessibility. The board recommended expanding public awareness that translation services are available and improving signage and online resources so residents know how to request services.
Outcome: The committee did not take a formal vote on funding. Members asked staff to estimate costs and prepare options; staff indicated they could produce estimates and a proposal to return at the next meeting.
Why it matters: The recommendations aim to reduce language barriers to legislative participation for Coloradans with limited English proficiency and to standardize translation and interpretation across the General Assembly.
Next steps: Staff will help scope the needs assessment and return cost estimates and recommended implementation options to the Executive Committee for further action.
