This bill would create the Language Access Board. The Board would have 32 members: 16 public members appointed by the President and 16 heads (or designees) of named federal departments and agencies. The Board would write language access standards, give technical help and training, study language access problems, connect people with limited English proficiency to federal resources, accept gifts, hire staff, and investigate and enforce compliance with its standards and rules.
The Board would publish initial standards within 2 years and put them in the Federal Register for public comment. Federal departments and agencies would have to revise their language access policies to follow the Board's standards within 6 months of publication. Agencies may request a waiver if following a standard creates an undue burden; the Board would review such waiver requests and keep a public record of them. The Board could investigate complaints about public-facing federal materials and work with agencies on corrective action plans. Before issuing final orders, corrective plans, or filing civil enforcement suits, the Board must submit those documents to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval (or suggested modification) within set timeframes.
The Board would hire an Executive Director, hearing examiners, and other staff. The Executive Director would oversee investigations and could bring civil suits with OMB approval. The Board must complete a study and a review of existing language access provisions within 2 years, and must submit periodic reports to Congress and the President (first report not later than 4 years after enactment, then every 2 years).
No publicly available information on an overall estimated cost or specific appropriations is included in the bill text. The bill does specify some expense items and pay limits: appointed public members may receive per-day compensation up to the daily equivalent of Executive Schedule Level IV; agency-designated members serve without compensation; the Board and its experts may be paid at rates capped by specified senior pay levels; members and staff may receive travel expenses and per diem; the Board may make grants, enter contracts, and accept gifts, bequests, and devises.
No publicly available information on proponents' stated views or arguments is included in the bill text or provided metadata.
No publicly available information on opponents' stated views or arguments is included in the bill text or provided metadata.