This resolution reaffirms San Francisco's commitment to providing equitable language access for all residents through city services. It emphasizes support for the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs in ensuring that language barriers do not hinder access to city resources.
Resolution reaffirming San Francisco’s commitment to equitable language access to for all residents through City services and the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs.
How it got here
The legislation originated from a need to reaffirm San Francisco's commitment to language access for residents, particularly those with Limited English Proficiency, following previous amendments to the Language Access Ordinance.
The City enacted the Equal Access to Services Ordinance, requiring major departments to provide language access services to Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons.
The City renamed the Equal Access to Services Ordinance to the Language Access Ordinance (LAO) and established the Office of Civic Engagement and Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA).
Supervisor Walton introduced File No. 230868 to amend the Language Access Ordinance, clarifying departments' responsibilities and expanding the role of language access in San Francisco.
The Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 348-24, reaffirming the City's commitment to equitable language access through City services and OCEIA.
The Mayor returned the resolution unsigned, which then became effective without her approval due to the time limit set by the Charter.
Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record
The ordinance updates the Language Access Ordinance to ensure that city departments provide language services in multiple languages, including Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino, and clarifies their responsibilities in crisis situations. It also establishes requirements for reporting, budgeting, and public notification regarding these language access services.
