AB 1638: Local government: emergency response services: use of languages other than English.

Existing law requires every local public agency that serves a substantial number of non-English-speaking people to employ a sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions or as interpreters to ensure provision of information and services in the language of the non-English-speaking person. Existing law requires that any materials explaining services available to the public shall be translated into any non-English language spoken by a substantial number of the public served by the agency.

This bill would require, commencing January 1, 2025, in the event of an emergency within the jurisdiction of a local agency, as defined, that provides emergency response services and that serves a population within which 5% or more of the people speak English less than very well according to American Community Survey data and jointly speak a language other than English, that the local agency provide information related to the emergency in English and in all languages spoken jointly by the 5% or more of the population that speaks English less than very well. The bill would require local agencies to use data by January 1, 2025, as specified, to determine which languages are spoken jointly by 5% or more of the population in its jurisdiction and to reassess that data every 5 years. The bill would impose various requirements on the manner in which information is provided in languages other than English. The bill would also require the Office of Planning and Research to survey a sample of local agencies every 3 years to determine compliance with these requirements and to report its findings to the Legislature. Because the bill would require local agencies to provide a higher level of service, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.