State Provision of Bilingual ServicesThe State of California has bilingual resources available to assist non-English speaking persons in accessing state government information and services. When information is available in the English language, the law requires each department to provide the same information in any non-English language in which 5 percent or more of the public served by that department requests services during the survey period. This does not preclude departments from providing bilingual services if the 5 percent threshold is not met. Departments will determine whether to provide access by use of certified bilingual employees, interpreters, translated material or other available bilingual resources.
An Interpreter Service Notice or Language Access Poster that explains both the right to receive service in a person's language and also how to request language assistance should be displayed by all departments in areas accessible to the public. Departments can assist by providing bilingual staff certified in the non-English language spoken, or by using other qualified interpreters. Additionally, departments may provide copies of documents, forms, or other written materials, translated into other languages. If a department does not have its materials translated, it may provide an interpreter to explain the information and assist the public in completing any required documentation.
