Illinois 94th Regular Session Status: Passed Senate

SB 334 — GOVERNMENT ACCESS- LANGUAGE

Last action — Session Sine Die

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 94th Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Creates the Access to Governmental Services Act. Requires each constitutional officer, State agency, circuit court clerk, and State program to provide equal access to public services for individuals with limited English proficiency. Provides definitions of "equal access", "limited English proficiency", "oral language services", and "important documents". Reasonable steps to provide equal access to public service includes, but is not limited to: in-house oral language services for individuals with limited English proficiency if the agency or officer has contact at least weekly with individuals with limited English proficiency; translation of important documents ordinarily provided to the public must be provided in any language spoken by at least 3% of the population within the geographic area served by a local office of a State agency, constitutional officer, or county as measured by the U.S. Census; and additional methods necessary to achieve equal access.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

50 added · 70 removed

Plain-language change summary

The bill SB 334 now includes specific definitions for terms like "important documents" and "sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons," clarifying that "important documents" don't include business licensing applications and that state programs are those administered by state agencies only. Additionally, it mandates that state agencies must take reasonable steps to ensure equal access to public services for individuals with limited English proficiency. The changes aim to provide clearer guidance on how services should be offered to non-English speakers, which is significant for ensuring that all residents can access necessary government services effectively.

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*LRB09405047AJO35082b* SB0334 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois and 2006 SB0334 Introduced 2/15/2005, by Sen.
SB0334 Engrossed LRB094 05047 AJO 35082 b AN ACT concerning access to governmental services.
Martin A.
Sandoval SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act Creates the Access to Governmental Services Act.
Requires each constitutional officer, State agency, circuit court clerk, and State program to provide equal access to public services for individuals with limited English proficiency.
Provides definitions of "equal access", "limited English proficiency", "oral language services", and "important documents".
Reasonable steps to provide equal access to public service includes, but is not limited to:
in-house oral language services for individuals with limited English proficiency if the agency or officer has contact at least weekly with individuals with limited English proficiency;
translation of important documents ordinarily provided to the public must be provided in any language spoken by at least 3% of the population within the geographic area served by a local office of a State agency, constitutional officer, or county as measured by the U.S.
Census;
and additional methods necessary to achieve equal access.
LRB094 05047 AJO 35082 b FISCAL NOTE ACT STATE MANDATES MAY APPLY ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT A BILL FOR SB0334 LRB094 05047 AJO 35082 b AN ACT concerning access to governmental services.
"Important documents" means application or informational materials, websites, notices, and complaint forms offered by State agencies, constitutional officers, circuit court clerks, and State programs.
"Important documents" means application or informational materials, websites, notices, and complaint forms offered by State agencies, constitutional officers, circuit court clerks, and State programs, as defined by rule by the appropriate State agency, constitutional officer, circuit court clerk, or State program.
"State program" means any program administered by a State agency, but does not include any program administered, in whole or in part, by a unit of local government or a school district, regardless of whether State funds are expended under the program.
"Sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in SB0334 Engrossed - 2 - LRB094 05047 AJO 35082 b public contact positions" means the number of qualified bilingual persons required in order to provide the same level of service to non-English-speaking persons as is available to English-speaking persons seeking the same service.
(b) Reasonable steps to provide equal access to public SB0334 - 2 - LRB094 05047 AJO 35082 b service include, but are not limited to:
(b) Reasonable steps to provide equal access to public services include, but are not limited to:
(1) In-house oral language services for individuals with limited English proficiency if contact between a State agency, constitutional officer, circuit court clerk, or State program and individuals with limited English proficiency is on a weekly or more frequent basis.
(1) Having a sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions or as interpreters to assist persons in public contact positions in providing services to individuals with limited English proficiency where there is documented substantial need due to contact between a State agency, constitutional officer, circuit court clerk, or State program and individuals with limited English proficiency.
(2) The translation of important documents ordinarily provided to the public in any language spoken by any limited English proficient population that constitutes at least 3% of the overall population within the geographic area served by a local office of a State agency, constitutional officer, or county of a circuit court, as measured by the U.S.
(2) Translating important documents ordinarily provided to the public into any language spoken by any limited English proficient population that constitutes at least 3% of the overall population of the State as measured by the U.S.
Specifically, the following are important documents to be translated:
(c) Each State agency, constitutional officer, circuit court clerk, and State program shall adopt rules regarding the requirements of this Section not less than 6 months after the date that this Act takes effect, or as soon thereafter as possible.
(A) All circuit court forms, including self-help forms, and applications and instructions for those forms and applications.
(d) The Illinois Human Rights Commission shall implement a process to address disputes arising under this Act, including, but not limited to, disputes concerning the interpretation of "important documents" and "sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions", not less than 6 months after the date that this Act takes effect, or as soon SB0334 Engrossed - 3 - LRB094 05047 AJO 35082 b thereafter as possible.
(B) All applications for State benefits, such as welfare and health care, and instructions for those applications.
(C) All public outreach materials, such as pamphlets, posters, and other written materials, produced by State agencies.
(3) Any additional methods or means necessary to achieve equal access to public services.
(c) Each State agency, constitutional officer, circuit court clerk, and State program shall adopt rules regarding the requirements of this Section at least 6 months prior to the date that this Act takes effect, or as soon thereafter as possible.
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Action History

  1. Session Sine Die

  2. Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

  3. Fiscal Note Requested by Rep. William B. Black; As Amended by HA 1

  4. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

  5. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted by Voice Vote

  6. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee

  7. House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. William Delgado

  8. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 003-002-000

  9. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee

  10. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. William Delgado

  11. Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate

  12. Second Reading - Short Debate

  13. Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate

  14. Do Pass / Short Debate State Government Administration Committee; 009-000-000

  15. Motion to Suspend Rule 25 - Prevailed 063-048-000

  16. Motion Filed to Suspend Rule 25 Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie

  17. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Harry Osterman

  18. Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Rep. William Delgado

  19. Assigned to State Government Administration Committee

  20. Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 31, 2005

  21. Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee

  22. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Charles E. Jefferson

  23. Added Alternate Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Michelle Chavez

  24. Fiscal Note Filed

  25. Assigned to Executive Committee

  26. Referred to Rules Committee

  27. First Reading

  28. Chief House Sponsor Rep. Harry Osterman

  29. Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading

  30. Arrived in House

  31. Third Reading - Passed; 034-017-001

  32. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading

  33. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Adopted; Sandoval

  34. Recalled to Second Reading

  35. Fiscal Note Filed from the Illinois Department of Central Management Services.

  36. Fiscal Note Filed from the Illinois Arts Council.

  37. Fiscal Note Filed as amended by Senate Amendments 1 and 3, from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

  38. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommend Do Adopt State Government; 006-003-000

  39. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Rules Refers to State Government

  40. Fiscal Note Filed from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

  41. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules

  42. Senate Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

  43. Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading April 7, 2005

  44. Second Reading

  45. Fiscal Note Requested by Sen. Dale E. Risinger

  46. Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading April 6, 2005

  47. Do Pass as Amended State Government; 005-003-001

  48. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Adopted

  49. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Adopted

  50. Fiscal Note Filed from the Illinois Commerce Commission.

  51. Postponed - State Government

  52. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Rules Refers to State Government

  53. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules

  54. Senate Committee Amendment No. 2 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

  55. Postponed - State Government

  56. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to State Government

  57. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules

  58. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Filed with Secretary by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

  59. Postponed - State Government

  60. Assigned to State Government

  61. Referred to Rules

  62. First Reading

  63. Filed with Secretary by Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

Sponsors

  • Martin A. Sandoval · Cosponsor

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

0 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 182 not signed on · 3 voted No

Sponsors (0)

None.

Co-sponsors (1)

  • Martin A. Sandoval

Not signed on (182)

182 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 182 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Motion

Failed 63 Yea · 48 Nay · 7 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 534607
Democrat 9000
Republican 1200
Total 634807
% of votes cast 53%41%0%6%
How each member voted (118)
Member Party Vote
Sacia — Nay
Saviano — Nay
Schmitz — Nay
Schock — Nay
Soto — Yea
Krause — Nay
Acevedo — Yea
Bassi — Nay
Mathias — Nay
Beaubien — Nay
Beiser — Yea
Bellock — Nay
Berrios — Yea
Biggins — Nay
Mautino — Yea
Black — Not Voting
Boland — Yea
May — Yea
Bost — Nay
Brauer — Nay
Brosnahan — Yea
Mendoza — Yea
Colvin — Not Voting
McKeon — Not Voting
Coulson — Nay
Molaro — Yea
Granberg — Yea
Hassert — Nay
Myers — Nay
Holbrook — Yea
Jefferson — Yea
Jenisch — Nay
Lang — Yea
Bailey — Yea
Reitz — Yea
Lyons, Joseph — Yea
Dugan — Yea
Dunkin — Yea
Flider — Yea
Leitch — Nay
Lindner — Nay
Madigan — Yea
McAuliffe — Nay
McGuire — Yea
McCarthy — Yea
Bradley, John — Yea
Meyer — Nay
Bradley, Richard — Yea
Millner — Nay
Nekritz — Yea
Phelps — Yea
Hannig — Yea
Burke — Yea
Pihos — Nay
Scully — Yea
Sommer — Nay
Turner — Yea
Howard — Yea
Jones — Yea
Verschoore — Yea
Washington — Yea
Davis, Monique — Yea
Yarbrough — Yea
Lyons, Eileen — Nay
Younge — Yea
Brady — Nay
Mitchell, Bill — Nay
Sullivan — Nay
Chavez — Yea
Currie — Yea
D'Amico — Yea
Dunn — Nay
Eddy — Nay
Flowers — Yea
Franks — Yea
Fritchey — Yea
Froehlich — Nay
Giles — Yea
Gordon — Yea
Graham — Yea
Hamos — Yea
Jakobsson — Yea
Mitchell, Jerry — Nay
Watson — Nay
Moffitt — Nay
Mulligan — Nay
Munson — Nay
Osmond — Nay
Parke — Nay
Tenhouse — Not Voting
Tryon — Nay
Wait — Nay
Winters — Nay
Churchill — Nay
Cross — Nay
Cultra — Not Voting
Daniels — Nay
Hultgren — Nay
Kosel — Not Voting
Osterman — Yea
Patterson — Yea
Poe — Not Voting
Pritchard — Nay
Reis — Nay
Ryg — Yea
Chapa LaVia — Yea
Eva-Dina Delgado Democrat Yea
Jay Hoffman Democrat Yea
Lakesia Collins Democrat Yea
Michael J. Kelly Democrat Yea
Nicholas K. Smith Democrat Yea
Patrick J. Joyce Democrat Yea
Robert "Bob" Rita Democrat Yea
Sara Feigenholtz Democrat Yea
William "Will" Davis Democrat Yea
Brad Stephens Republican Nay
Chapin Rose Republican Nay
Chris Miller Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Third Reading

Passed 34 Yea · 17 Nay · 8 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 291608
Democrat 5000
Republican 0100
Total 341708
% of votes cast 58%29%0%14%
How each member voted (59)
Member Party Vote
Sandoval — Yea
Luechtefeld — Nay
Althoff — Nay
Martinez — Yea
Bomke — Yea
Burzynski — Nay
Haine — Yea
Meeks — Yea
Schoenberg — Yea
Munoz — Yea
Garrett — Yea
Brady — Yea
Lauzen — Nay
Sullivan, D. — Yea
Sullivan, J. — Yea
Link — Yea
Maloney — Yea
Pankau — Nay
Jacobs — Yea
Peterson — Nay
Cullerton — Yea
Shadid — Not Voting
Sieben — Nay
Silverstein — Not Voting
Jones, J. — Nay
Watson — Nay
Jones, W. — Nay
Trotter — Yea
Viverito — Not Voting
Petka — Not Voting
Demuzio — Not Voting
Wilhelmi — Yea
Winkel — Yea
Wojcik — Nay
Clayborne — Yea
Cronin — Yea
Crotty — Yea
Dahl — Nay
DeLeo — Yea
Dillard — Not Voting
Forby — Yea
Geo-Karis — Nay
Halvorson — Yea
Hendon — Yea
Radogno — Nay
Raoul — Yea
Rauschenberger — Not Voting
Righter — Nay
Risinger — Nay
Ronen — Yea
Roskam — Not Voting
Rutherford — Yea
del Valle — Yea
Don Harmon Democrat Yea
Emil Jones, III Democrat Yea
Kimberly A. Lightford Democrat Yea
Lakesia Collins Democrat Yea
Mattie Hunter Democrat Yea
Dave Syverson Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 334 do?
Creates the Access to Governmental Services Act. Requires each constitutional officer, State agency, circuit court clerk, and State program to provide equal access to public services for individuals with limited English proficiency. Provides definitions of "equal access", "limited English proficiency", "oral language services", and "important documents". Reasonable steps to provide equal access to public service includes, but is not limited to: in-house oral language services for individuals with limited English proficiency if the agency or officer has contact at least weekly with individuals with limited English proficiency; translation of important documents ordinarily provided to the public must be provided in any language spoken by at least 3% of the population within the geographic area served by a local office of a State agency, constitutional officer, or county as measured by the U.S. Census; and additional methods necessary to achieve equal access.
Who sponsors SB 334?
SB 334 is sponsored by Martin A. Sandoval.
What is the current status of SB 334?
This bill died with 94th Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 334?
Track SB 334 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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