BILL REQ. #:  H-4165.1 

Read first time 01/21/2004.   Referred to Committee on State Government.

     AN ACT Relating to providing public notices of public health, safety, and welfare in a language other than English; and adding a new section to chapter 1.20 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 1.20 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) State agencies shall provide public notices, whether required by law or rule, in a language other than English if a significant segment of the affected community or area is of limited English proficiency and speaks a language other than English. This requirement is only for notices that involve a public health, safety, or welfare concern, including, but not limited to, proposed locations of facilities that would house sex offenders, or proposed locations for criminal facilities.
     (2) "Significant segment," for purposes of this section, means five percent or more of the citizens living in the affected community or area who speak a language other than English, or ten thousand or more individuals residing in the county who speak a language other than English.