Federal Grants Language Accessibility Act of 2023

Bill 118 s 2471, also known as the Federal Grants Language Accessibility Act of 2023, aims to improve language accessibility for individuals who may have limited English proficiency. The bill focuses on ensuring that federal grant programs are accessible to all individuals, regardless of their language abilities.

The key provisions of the bill include requiring federal agencies to provide language assistance services to individuals with limited English proficiency when applying for or receiving federal grants. This includes providing translation services, interpretation services, and other language assistance as needed.

Additionally, the bill requires federal agencies to develop language access plans to ensure that language assistance services are readily available and effectively implemented. These plans must include strategies for identifying individuals with limited English proficiency, providing timely and accurate language assistance, and monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of language access services. Furthermore, the bill establishes a Language Access Coordinator within each federal agency to oversee the implementation of language access plans and ensure compliance with the requirements of the bill. The Language Access Coordinator will also be responsible for training agency staff on language access requirements and best practices. Overall, the Federal Grants Language Accessibility Act of 2023 seeks to promote equal access to federal grant programs for individuals with limited English proficiency and improve communication and understanding between federal agencies and diverse communities.