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Nevada Commission on Ethics adopts language access plan required by state law
Summary
The commission approved a language access plan under NRS 232.0081, committed to annual review and identified initial steps including staff language training, website translate widgets and exploring translated vital forms.
The Nevada Commission on Ethics adopted a language access plan on Friday intended to meet the requirements of NRS 232.0081 and improve public access to the commission’s education, outreach and meeting materials.
Executive Director Ross Armstrong told commissioners the plan follows a template from the Governor’s Office for New Americans and begins by assessing the commission’s needs as a small regulatory agency that provides education, receives advisory requests and holds public meetings. Armstrong said the commission does not currently collect language demographic data as part of its intake forms but uses census data to estimate local language needs.
The plan lists current services and opportunities for improvement: state websites served with a translation widget (Google Translate), closed-captioning options on YouTube meeting postings, a contact line on agendas for accommodation requests and funding for training and language skill development for staff. Armstrong said the commission has approved funding and training registration for its outreach and education officer to improve American Sign Language and Spanish skills, and he agreed to follow up with specifics on courses.
The plan identifies near-term improvements including translating vital forms into the top non-English languages in the state (Spanish, Tagalog and Chinese, per the plan), creating a process to request translation services for public meetings, and exploring partnerships with agencies that serve deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. Armstrong said the plan will be reviewed annually.
A commissioner noted that a prior legislative request estimated translation of vital forms could cost about $3,000; Armstrong said there currently is no line item in the commission’s budget for translations but the governor’s recommended budget includes additional funding for educational subscriptions and a requested case-management upgrade that the commission sought.
A motion to adopt the language access plan was moved and seconded; the commission voted in favor without recorded opposition.
Ending: The commission directed staff to return with specifics on the outreach officer’s ASL and Spanish training, to explore partnerships for deaf and hard-of-hearing services, and to identify options and costs for translating key materials.
