Title
Title
California’s Language Access Plan: Model Notice for Limited English Proficient (LEP) Court Users; Video Remote Interpreting Pilot Project; Progress Report on Implementation of the Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts (Action Required)
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Summary
Summary
To strengthen the California judiciary’s capacity to meet the needs of millions of people with limited-English language skills, the Judicial Council charged the Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force with implementing the recommendations of the Strategic Plan for Language Access in the California Courts. The task force began work to implement the “Phase 1” recommendations in 2015. In this report we offer a brief description of the task force’s progress on implementation. The task force seeks the Judicial Council’s further approval of two projects that implement recommendations of the Language Access Plan.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
The Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force recommended that the council:
1. Adopt a model notice to help inform court users about the availability of language access services. The notice would be translated into the state’s top eight non-English languages and shared with courts to help inform court users about the availability of language access services. The notice includes language indicating that, where appropriate, language access services are free. Once translated, the notice should be shared by the Judicial Council and courts with the public, justice partners, legal services providers, community-based organizations, and other entities working with LEP populations. This project addresses Recommendation No. 5 in the Strategic Plan approved by the council on January 22, 2015.
2. Proceed with a request for proposals (RFP) for a video remote interpreting (VRI) pilot project, which will build on previous work to test new technology solutions and equipment, preapprove vendors if appropriate, and finalize statewide technical guidelines taking into account the needs of different courts from throughout the state. This project addresses Recommendations 12 through 16 in the Strategic Plan approved by the council on January 22, 2015.
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Speakers
Speakers
Hon. Mariano-Florentino Cuellar, Chair, Language Access Plan
Implementation Task Force
Hon. Terence L. Bruiniers, Chair, Technological Solutions Subcommittee,
Language Access Plan Implementation Task Force
Mr. Douglas G. Denton, Court Operations Services