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Supervisor Tang introduces overhaul of Language Access Ordinance
Summary
Supervisor Tang introduced legislation to amend the Language Access Ordinance to remove a phased tiered system, centralize complaint handling with the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OSEA), streamline reporting and require signage and website translation; the item was introduced for committee review.
Supervisor Tang introduced legislation on Nov. 4, 2014, proposing a substantial revision to the city's Language Access Ordinance (LAO) intended to expand and standardize language services across city departments.
Tang said the city needs to close remaining gaps in language access and asked colleagues to review a forthcoming Budget Analyst report that analyzes workforce and resource expenditures for language access services. Tang described the proposed changes as removing the existing tiered implementation system so that all major public-facing departments would be required to provide language access to populations meeting threshold criteria without a phased timeline.
The legislation would centralize the complaint process in the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OSEA) with 311 support, streamline annual compliance reporting, require translation of public signage and websites, and require OSEA to maintain a certified pool of vendors for interpretation and translation. Tang said the measure followed discussions with community groups and departments and thanked Supervisor Chu for his co-sponsorship.
No final vote was taken; Supervisor Tang said the proposal would be discussed in committee. The item was introduced to the Board and referred for committee consideration.
