Bill Text: CA AB1638 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Local government: emergency response services: use of languages other than English.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-08 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 587, Statutes of 2023. [AB1638 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB1638-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 23, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1638

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Introduced by Assembly Member Mike Fong

February 17, 2023

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An act relating to workforce development. to add Section 7299.7 to the Government Code, relating to local government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1638, as amended, Mike Fong. Workforce development: climate change. Local government: use of a foreign language.

Existing law requires every local public agency that serves a substantial number of non-English-speaking people to employ a sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions or as interpreters to ensure provision of information and services in the language of the non-English-speaking person. Existing law requires that any materials explaining services available to the public shall be translated into any non-English language spoken by a substantial number of the public served by the agency.

This bill would require, in the event of an emergency within the jurisdiction of a local public agency that serves a population within which 10% or more of the people primarily speak a language other than English, that the local public agency provide information related to the emergency in English and in the language spoken by the 10% or more of the population that does not primarily speak English. Because the bill would require local public agencies to provide a higher level of service, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Existing law established the California Workforce Investment Board, which was renamed the California Workforce Development Board on January 1, 2016. Existing law, the California Green Collar Jobs Act of 2008, requires the board to establish a committee known as the Green Collar Jobs Council (GCJC), composed of specified members, and requires the GCJC to perform certain functions and duties, including the development of a strategic initiative, relating to the training and development of a skilled workforce to meet the needs of California’s emerging green economy.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would establish a workforce development program to prepare California workers for evolving workforce demands in response to climate change.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NOYES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 7299.7 is added to the Government Code, immediately preceding Section 7299.8, to read:

7299.7.

 Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in the event of an emergency, as defined in Section 11342.545, within the jurisdiction of a local public agency that serves a population within which 10 percent or more of the people primarily speak a language other than English, the local public agency shall provide information related to the emergency in English and in the language spoken by the 10 percent or more of the population that does not primarily speak English.

SEC. 2.

 If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact subsequent legislation that would establish a workforce development program to prepare California workers for evolving workforce demands in response to climate change.