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    AN ACT concerning access to governmental  services.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:

 
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    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Access 
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to Governmental Services Act.
 
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    Section 5. Definitions. 
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    "Equal access" means to be able to interact with a State 
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agency or constitutional office at a level equal to individuals 
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who do not have limited English proficiency.
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    "Limited English proficiency" means the inability to 
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adequately understand or express oneself in the spoken or 
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written English language.
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    "Oral language services" includes various methods to 
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provide verbal information and interpretations, such as staff 
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interpreters, bilingual staff, telephone interpreter programs, 
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and private interpreter programs.
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    "Important documents" means application or informational 
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materials, websites, notices, and complaint forms offered by 
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State agencies and constitutional officers, as defined by rule 
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by the appropriate State agency or  constitutional officer.  
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"Important" documents" does not include applications and 
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examinations related to the licensure, certification, or 
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registration of businesses and professionals.
 


 






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    "Sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in 
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public contact positions" means the number of qualified 
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bilingual persons required in order to provide the same level 
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of service to non-English-speaking persons as is available to 
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English-speaking persons seeking the same service from State 
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agencies or constitutional officers.
 
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    Section 10. Language access required. 
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    (a) Each State agency and constitutional officer shall take 
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reasonable steps to provide equal access to  the agency or 
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office for individuals with limited English  proficiency.
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    (b) Reasonable steps to provide equal access include, but 
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are not limited to:
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        (1) Development and implementation of pilot programs 
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    or phase-in implementation plans for having a sufficient 
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    number of qualified bilingual persons in public contact 
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    positions or as interpreters to assist persons in public 
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    contact positions in providing oral language services to 
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    individuals with limited English proficiency where there 
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    is documented substantial need due to contact between a 
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    State agency or constitutional officer and individuals 
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    with limited English proficiency.
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        (2) Development and implementation of pilot programs 
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    or phase-in implementation plans for translating important 
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    documents ordinarily provided to the public into the 
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    language spoken by any limited English proficient 
 


 






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    population that constitutes at least 3% of the overall 
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    population of the State  as measured by the U.S. Census.
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    (c) Each State agency and constitutional officer shall 
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adopt rules regarding the requirements of this Section not more 
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than 6 months after the date that this Act takes effect, or as 
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soon thereafter as possible.
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    (d) The Department of Human Rights shall implement a 
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process to address disputes arising under this Act, including, 
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but not limited to, disputes concerning the interpretation of 
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"important documents" and "sufficient number of qualified 
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bilingual persons in public contact positions", not more than 6 
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months after the date that this Act takes effect, or as soon 
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thereafter as possible.