HB 24-1368

House Bill 24-1368 establishes a Language Access Advisory Board in Colorado to improve language access for people with limited English proficiency who want to participate in the state's legislative process. The board includes members from various backgrounds such as lawmakers, community organizations, and translation services, and will work on identifying barriers and suggesting ways to enhance communication during legislative activities. This initiative aims to make the legislative process more accessible by considering public feedback and expert opinions. The advisory board will submit a report with its findings and recommendations by December 15, 2024, after which it will be dissolved. The bill has been signed into law and is now effective as of May 28, 2024.

Official Summary

The act creates the language access advisory board (advisory board). The advisory board consists of 11 voting and 2 nonvoting members. Each voting member of the advisory board is appointed by either the majority leader or minority leader of either the house of representatives or the senate. The voting members of the advisory board are: 3 members of the house of representatives; 2 members of the senate; One member representing the Colorado Language Access Coalition; One member representing a local government that has implemented a language access plan or has a language access advisory entity; One member representing persons with disabilities; One member who works in translation or interpretation services; One member with experience in language access in rural communities; and One member with expertise in language access relating to elections. The nonvoting members of the advisory board are: The director of research of the legislative council or the director's designee; and The director of the office of legislative legal services or the director's designee. The purpose of the advisory board is to assess and develop recommendations for improving meaningful access to the legislative process for populations with limited English proficiency, to include: Identifying current language-related barriers to the legislative process for state residents with limited English proficiency; Examining the success of current language access measures relating to the legislative process; Considering the development of a language access plan covering the general assembly and the legislative process; Evaluating options for oral interpretation and written translation of legislative activities; and Assessing language access concerning the ballot information booklet. In performing this assessment, the advisory board must solicit public comment and input from subject matter experts. The advisory board must submit the report of its findings and recommendations to the executive committee of the legislative council on or before December 15, 2024. The advisory board is repealed on January 1, 2025. The act appropriates $29,741 from the general fund to the legislative department for the 2024-25 state fiscal year to implement the act. APPROVED by Governor May 28, 2024 EFFECTIVE May 28, 2024(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Votes