Language Access Laws and Legislation

The following are some of the laws and other legislation that support language access in various settings:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: prohibits discrimination or the exclusion or denial of benefits of programs based on someone's race, color, or national origin. Applies to programs receiving Federal funding and support (even indirectly).

• More information on this: https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/language%C2%A0access-translation-and-interpretation-policies-and-practices/frequently-asked

• Executive Order 13166 of 2000 (affirms Title VI’s language access requirement)

• More info: https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2010/12/14/eolep.pdf

• Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 (EEOA): prohibits, among other conduct, deliberate segregation on the basis of race, color, and national origin.

• See more here: https://www.justice.gov/crt/types-educational-opportunities-discrimination

• Various state and local laws and regulations, including Maryland's Equal Access to Public Services Act of 2002

• Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (healthcare/medical)

• See more here: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/section-1557/1557faqs/index.html#:~:text=Section%201557%20makes%20it%20unlawful,%2C%20sex%2C%20age%20or%20disability.

• Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act of 1975

• See more: https://www.justice.gov/crt/section-4-voting-rights-act

Starting points for compliance:

• "I Speak..." cards in various languages (cards that identify various languages)

• Language posters

• Language surveys (helps identify the most spoken languages in the community/area/location)

• Partnership with a translation/interpreting company or freelancer (even on an as-needed basis)

• Bilingual staff (with appropriate interpreting/translation training and language proficiency training)

Sources:

Migration Policy Institute

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

U.S. Department of Justice