T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency As-
sistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5187). 
(3) DISABILITY.—The term ‘‘disability’’ has the 
meaning given that term in section 3 of the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12102). 
(4) INDIVIDUAL WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PRO-
FICIENCY.—The 
term 
‘‘individual 
with 
limited 
English proficiency’’ means an individual whose pri-
mary language for communication is not English 
and who has a limited ability to read, write, speak, 
or understand English. 
(5) LANGUAGE ACCESS.—The term ‘‘language 
access’’ means the provision of culturally competent 
and effective language services to an individual with 
limited English proficiency or an individual with dis-
abilities designed to enhance that individual’s access 
to, understanding of, or benefit from the services, 
activities, programs, or benefits provided by the 
agency. 
SEC. 3. LANGUAGE ACCESS WORKING GROUP. 
(a) DEMOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 30 
days after the date of enactment of this Act and every 
3 years thereafter, the head of each Federal agency shall 
conduct a demographic assessment of individuals with lim-
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ited English proficiency and individuals with disabilities 
who are eligible to be served or likely to be encountered 
by that agency. 
(b) WORKING GROUP ESTABLISHED.—Not later than 
30 days after the conclusion of the demographic assess-
ment under subsection (a), and in order to ensure that 
Federal agencies do not discriminate on the basis of na-
tional origin in violation of title VI of the Civil Rights Act 
of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) and that such agencies 
do not discriminate against individuals with disabilities in 
violation of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 
(29 U.S.C. 794), the head of each Federal agency shall 
establish within the agency a Language Access Working 
Group, which shall include the following members: 
(1) One or more senior officials within the 
agency division or directorate. 
(2) When possible, 1 or more representatives 
from each employee resource group. 
(3) The Chief Human Capital Officer or their 
appointee. 
(4) Such experts as necessary to develop com-
munications for individuals with limited English pro-
ficiency and individuals with disabilities who are eli-
gible to be served or likely to be encountered by that 
agency as identified by the demographic assessment 
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under subsection (a), including technical and content 
experts in communication disabilities, and cross-cul-
tural translations and interpretation services. 
(5) A website accessibility expert. 
(6) Internal communications personnel. 
(c) DUTIES OF THE WORKING GROUP.—Each Lan-
guage Access Working Group shall— 
(1) examine the services, activities, programs, 
and benefits provided by the agency and assist the 
agency in developing and implementing a system by 
which individuals with limited English proficiency 
and individuals with disabilities can access those 
services, activities, programs, and benefits in a man-
ner that is consistent with the fundamental mission 
of that agency; 
(2) examine the services, activities, programs, 
and benefits provided by any recipients of Federal fi-
nancial assistance provided by such agency (referred 
to in this Act as ‘‘recipients’’) to provide rec-
ommendations about how the agency can ensure that 
recipients of Federal financial assistance provide 
meaningful access to applicants, beneficiaries, and 
other individuals served by that recipient who are in-
dividuals with limited English proficiency or individ-
uals with disabilities in a manner that is consistent 
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with the fundamental mission of that agency without 
unduly burdening the essential functions of that re-
cipient; 
(3) conduct an annual vitality assessment to de-
termine, over time and across various activities, 
which of the documents produced by that agency are 
vital to provide equal access for individuals with lim-
ited English proficiency and individuals with disabil-
ities served by the agency; 
(4) provide recommendations about how the 
agency can ensure that information made available 
by the agency or by a recipient to individuals af-
fected by an emergency is made available as soon as 
possible in multimodal and cross-cultural formats 
that can be understood by individuals with limited 
English proficiency and individuals with disabilities; 
(5) provide recommendations about how the 
agency can ensure that the distribution of supplies, 
the processing of applications, and other relief and 
assistance activities provided by such agency or re-
cipient during or in response to an emergency shall 
be accomplished in an equitable and impartial man-
ner, without discrimination on the grounds of na-
tionality, disability, or English proficiency; and 
(6) assist the head of the agency in— 
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(A) preparing, annually updating, submit-
ting to the Attorney General, and implementing 
the plan described in section 4(a); 
(B) issuing the guidance described in sec-
tion 4(d); and 
(C) ensuring the agency plan and agency 
recipient guidance is made available to the pub-
lic online in a manner that complies with sec-
tion 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
U.S.C. 794d). 
SEC. 4. ACCESS PLAN FOR FEDERALLY CONDUCTED PRO-
GRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the head of each agency 
shall prepare and submit to the Attorney General a plan 
described in subsection (b). Each agency shall ensure that 
such plan is consistent with the final guidance of the De-
partment of Justice entitled ‘‘Guidance to Federal Finan-
cial Assistance Recipients Regarding Title VI Prohibition 
Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Limited 
English Proficient Persons’’ (67 Fed. Reg. 41455 (June 
12, 2002)), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 12102), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 
of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), and section 1557 of the Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18116). 
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(b) PLAN REQUIREMENT.—Each plan under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) the steps the agency will take to ensure that 
individuals with limited English proficiency or indi-
viduals with disabilities have access to each service, 
activity, program, or benefit provided or adminis-
tered by the agency; 
(2) the steps the agency will take to ensure that 
older adults with limited English proficiency or a 
disability who may require the use of non-traditional 
modes of communication have access to each service, 
activity, program, or benefit provided or adminis-
tered by the agency; 
(3) the policies and procedures for identifying, 
assessing, and meeting the culturally and linguis-
tically appropriate language needs of the agency’s 
beneficiaries who are individuals with limited 
English proficiency or individuals with disabilities 
served by the agency; 
(4) the steps the agency will take to ensure that 
each service, activity, program, or benefit of the 
agency is culturally and linguistically appropriate, 
including providing a range of language assistance 
options, notice to individuals with limited English 
proficiency or individuals with disabilities of the 
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right to qualified language services and communica-
tion access, periodic training of staff, monitoring 
and quality assessment of the language services and, 
in appropriate circumstances, the translation of writ-
ten materials; 
(5) the steps the agency will take, with respect 
to each service, activity, program, or benefit of the 
agency, to provide reasonable accommodations nec-
essary for individuals with limited English pro-
ficiency and communication disabilities to under-
stand communications from the agency; 
(6) the steps the agency will take to ensure that 
all applications, forms, and other relevant documents 
for the agency’s services, activities, benefits, and 
programs are competently translated, interpreted, 
and provided in accessible formats in the primary 
language of a client that is an individual with lim-
ited English proficiency or an individual with disabil-
ities if such materials are needed to improve access 
of such client to such service, activity, benefit, or 
program; 
(7) when providing media, live broadcasting, or 
additional video communication for the agency’s 
services, activities, benefits, and programs, how the 
agency will ensure the use of qualified American 
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Sign Language interpreters with a picture-in-picture 
inset feature where the interpreter’s frame is at 
least the same size as the main speaker’s frame but 
no smaller than 33 percent of the screen; 
(8) if relevant to the agency, the resources the 
agency will provide to improve cultural and linguistic 
appropriateness and accessibility practices to assist 
recipients of Federal funds to improve their access 
to health care related programs and activities for in-
dividuals with limited English proficiency or individ-
uals with disabilities; 
(9) if relevant to the agency, the resources the 
agency will provide to ensure that accessible infor-
mation and competent communication assistance is 
provided to patients that are individuals with limited 
English proficiency or people with disabilities by 
qualified interpreters; and 
(10) the resources the agency will provide to en-
sure that minor children are not used to provide in-
terpretation services, except as permitted under reg-
ulations implementing section 1557 of the Patient 
Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 
18116) as published in the Federal Register on May 
18, 2016. 
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(c) DOJ REVIEW.—The Attorney General shall re-
view each plan submitted in accordance with this section 
not later than 120 days after receipt of the plan. The At-
torney General shall also review the most recently sub-
mitted plan from each relevant agency not later than 7 
days after an emergency has been declared. 
(d) GUIDANCE FOR RECIPIENTS OF FEDERAL FI-
NANCIAL ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The agency shall issue guid-
ance for recipients of Federal financial assistance 
under the jurisdiction of the agency in order to as-
sist such recipients in ensuring that individuals with 
limited English proficiency or individuals with dis-
abilities have access to each service, activity, pro-
gram, or benefit provided or administered by the re-
cipient. Such guidance shall take into account the 
types of services provided by the recipients and the 
individuals served by the recipients. 
(2) REVIEW AND APPROVAL.—The agency shall 
submit such guidance for review and approval by the 
Attorney General. Following approval by the Attor-
ney General, each agency shall publish its guidance 
document in the Federal Register for public com-
ment. 
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SEC. 5. CONSULTATION. 
(a) STAKEHOLDER INPUT.—In carrying out this Act, 
agencies shall ensure that stakeholders, such as individ-
uals with limited English proficiency, people with disabil-
ities, and their representative organizations, recipients, 
and other appropriate individuals or entities, have an ade-
quate opportunity to provide meaningful input. 
(b) EVALUATION
OF AGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES.— 
Each agency shall evaluate the particular needs of the in-
dividuals with limited English proficiency and people with 
disabilities that the agency and the recipients of the agen-
cy serve and the burdens of compliance on the agency and 
its recipients. 
(c) INPUT.—Each agency shall take into account 
such input from stakeholders in developing an approach 
to ensuring meaningful access by individuals with limited 
English proficiency and people with disabilities that is 
practical and effective, fiscally responsible, responsive to 
the particular circumstances of each agency, and can be 
readily implemented. 
Æ 
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