The Language Access Act allows victims of violations of that law to file complaints, but often complaints are not filed because of fear of retaliation. Councilmember Nadeau’s Language Access Compliance Amendment would require the Office of Human Rights to conduct at least 3 field tests per year, which would uncover violations and create improvements to language access compliance without waiting for a complaint. Field tests are permissible, but not required, under current legislation. Mandatory field tests will help address the prevalence of unreported violations.
The Language Access Act allows victims of violations of that law to file complaints, but often complaints are not filed because of fear of retaliation. Councilmember Nadeau’s Language Access Compliance Amendment would require the Office of Human Rights to conduct at least 3 field tests per year, which would uncover violations and create improvements to language access compliance without waiting for a complaint. Field tests are permissible, but not required, under current legislation. Mandatory field tests will help address the prevalence of unreported violations.
The Language Access Act allows victims of violations of that law to file complaints, but often complaints are not filed because of fear of retaliation. Councilmember Nadeau’s Language Access Compliance Amendment would require the Office of Human Rights to conduct at least 3 field tests per year, which would uncover violations and create improvements to language access compliance without waiting for a complaint. Field tests are permissible, but not required, under current legislation. Mandatory field tests will help address the prevalence of unreported violations.
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Councilitgsaker Elissa Silverman Nadeau
(Councilmember Charles Allen Councilmember Vincent Orange
ABILL,
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
‘To amend Chapter 12 of Title 4 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations to
require the Office of Human Rights to conduct at least 3 field tests per year in
order to ascertain the level of compliance with the Language Access Act of 2004.
BE IT ENACTED BY ‘THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
That this act may be cited as the “Language Access Compliance Amendment Act of
2015”.
Sec. 2. Section 1227.1 of Chapter 12 of Title 4 of the District of Columbia
Municipal Regulations is amended by striking the phrase “with the Act.” and inserting
the phrase “with the Act. OHR shall conduct at least three (3) field tests per year.” in its
place.
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
‘The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the
fiscal impact statement required by section 602(c)(3) of the District of Columbia Home
Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-
206.02(¢)(3)).
Sec. 4. Effective date,34
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This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto
by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of
congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home
Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code § 1-
206.02(c)(1), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.