§ 2-518. Language access oversight; duties of Language Access Director.

(a)

The Human Relations Commission shall provide oversight, monitoring, and investigation of covered entities in their implementation of the provisions of this Division and report annually to the County Council and County Executive to ensure that the provision of services by covered entities meets acceptable standards of translation or interpretation.

(b)

There shall be within the Human Relations Commission a Language Access Director to monitor activities under this Division. The Language Access Director shall:

(1)

Review and monitor each covered entity's language access plan for compliance with this Division and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, approved July 2, 1964 (78 Stat. 252; 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d through 2000d-7);

(2)

Track, monitor, and investigate public complaints regarding language access violations at covered entities, and where necessary, issue written findings of noncompliance to the covered entities regarding failures to provide language access; provided that this responsibility shall not supersede or preclude the existing individual complaint process and mechanism under the jurisdiction of the Human Relations Commission;

(3)

Review and monitor the Language Access Contacts with respect to their performance of responsibilities under this Division;

(4)

Consult with Language Access Contacts and the heads of government offices that conduct outreach to communities with limited or non-English proficient populations;

(5)

Serve as the Language Access Director for the Human Relations Commission; and

(6)

Through the County Executive, by regulation, designate additional covered entities with major public contact.

(CB-62-2017)