Staff proposes year‑long language‑access assessment; committee asks for community input

Elizabeth Berger summarized the Language Access Board's interim work and a community group's recommendations that informed a draft request for proposals to hire an external contractor to assess the Legislature's language‑access needs. The proposed RFP would fund a roughly one‑year assessment that would deliver concrete recommendations on how the legislature could improve services for people with limited English proficiency and for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing individuals.

Berger said the RFP language came from advocates and experts who met with the Language Access Board; she noted Oregon as an example with a robust language access program and said she would follow up with more state examples if the committee requested them. Majority Leader Adam thanked staff for engaging community and expert voices. There was no motion today; staff asked the committee for input on timeline and scope before the RFP is issued.