Language Access Policies at the State and Local Level

At the federal level, Presidential Executive Order 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” requires that recipients of federal financial assistance must ensure that their programs are accessible to limited English proficient (LEP) persons and thus do not discriminate on the basis of national origin in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Legislative efforts to ensure program accessibility for LEP individuals extend to action at the state and local level.  Across the country, policymakers have passed language access legislation through state legislatures, by mayoral executive order, city ordinances, and/or local resolutions. These laws seek to remove language barriers that would otherwise prevent LEP individuals from accessing programs and services to which they are entitled.

State and local language access measures may include a range of provisions that detail the need for: translated documents, information in multiple languages, bilingual staff, interpreters, assessments, and evaluation. Following is a list of current state and local language access policies. If you have suggestions for relevant laws, resolutions, or executive orders to add to this list, please email languageportal@migrationpolicy.org

State-Level Language Access Policies

• 2006 Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 371, Part II, Language Access
• 2004 District of Columbia Language Access Act of 2004
• 1995 Minnesota Statutes 2007, 15.441, Communications Services
• 1973 Dymally-Alatorre Bilingual Services Act (California)

City-Level Language Access Policies

• 2008City of New York Executive Order 120: Citywide Policy on Language Access to Ensure the Effective Delivery of City Services
• City of Philadelphia Executive Order 09-08: Access to City Programs and Activities for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency
• 2007 City of Seattle Executive Order-01-07: City-wide Translation and Interpretation Policy
• 2003 City of New York Local Law 73
  City of Monterey Park Administrative Policy 10-35: Multilingual City Services
• City of Minneapolis Resolution 2003-R547: Approving the Creation of a Limited English Proficient (LEP) Plan
• 2001 City of Oakland Ordinance No. 12324: Equal Access to Services
  City and County of San Francisco Ordinance No. 126-01: Equal Access to Services
• City of Philadelphia Executive Order 04-01:Access to City Programs and Services for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency