BILL REQ. #:  H-0479.1 

Read first time 01/24/2007.   Referred to Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness.

     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 required by law or rule to provide public notices to a community or area to advise or inform the public about an imminent or emergent public health, safety, or welfare risk shall provide bilingual or multilingual notices when a significant segment of residents speak a language other than English and have a limited proficiency in English. This requirement applies to notices that include, but are not limited to, proposed locations for criminal facilities or facilities that would house sex offenders. This requirement does not apply to the adoption of rules under chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (2) "Significant segment," for purposes of this section, means five percent or more of the residents residing in the affected city, town, or county who are of limited English proficiency.