LANSING, Mich. (June 9, 2023) — On Thursday, Sen. Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit), Sen. Mary Cavanagh (D-Redford Twp.), Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton), and Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) introduced Senate Bills 382 and 383 and House Bills 4720 and 4721 that would make state services more accessible and available to those who are English Language Learners/limited English proficient (LEP).
“Michigan is becoming a more diverse state and includes a large and growing immigrant population that should all have access to state government services regardless of ability to speak or understand English,” said Sen. Chang. “Over 944,928 Michiganders 5 years old and over speak another language besides English at home. Whether it’s accessing public benefits, being able to vote in a language they understand, or getting help with unemployment, every Michigander deserves to get the help they need from state departments and agencies in order to make sure their needs are met. This is an important piece of legislation that will help move Michigan forward and not leave immigrant communities behind.”
These bills were developed in consultation with immigrant–serving organizations.
“As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and first-generation American, I am proud to sponsor these bills to create a more welcoming state. To grow the state of Michigan, we need to adapt to the changing times,” said Sen. Cavanagh.
These bills ensure that state departments and agencies will take reasonable steps to provide equal language access, which could include a variety of things such as oral language services and translating vital documents into languages spoken by LEP populations that constitute at least three percent of the population in that geographic area or 500 or more people served by that local office. The bill also requires that every two years, each department and agency will submit to the Office of Global Michigan a report detailing their plans for implementation of equal language access. The language access plan will include items such as the number of bilingual workers, a plan to address any insufficiency, a list of vital documents the department has translated, and the name of the individual designated as the entity’s language access coordinator.
“Ensuring that every Michigander, regardless of the language they speak, has access and understanding to programs and services within our state plays a crucial role in allowing every person the opportunity to participate in economic, social, and civic life. This package of bills is an important step toward a more inclusive state for every person, worker and family,” said Rep. Puri.
“Language is critical in connecting to our world and accessing necessary information,” said Rep. Fitzgerald. “My bill in this package ensures equal language access to state services. A significant portion of the population in my district in Wyoming are non-native English speakers, and like all Michiganders whose first language is not English, they deserve to have essential resources available to them.”
Maryland, California, Washington, D.C., Minnesota, and Hawaii each already has a law requiring language access plans for state agencies.
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