Media Contact:
Quynh-Huong Nguyen
quynh-huong@woorijuntos.org
(737) 471-5316
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Austin, Texas - March 14th, 2023
State Senator Jose Menéndez and State Representative Penny Morales Shaw file companion bills for a Health and Human Services Commission Language Access Plan at the 88th Legislative Session
AUSTIN, TEXAS - Woori Juntos, a community-based im/migrant rights organization dedicated to promoting social justice and equity, has continued to advocate for language access during the 88th Legislative Session. They are joined by State Senator Jose Menéndez and State Representative Penny Morales Shaw who have filed companion bills, Senate Bill (SB) 2080 and House Bill (HB) 5166 respectively, aimed at implementing a language access plan within the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
The language access plan (LAP) seeks to provide written translation and oral interpretation of essential health and human services program (Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP) information, services, and applications into languages from language groups with considerable limited English proficiency (LEP) such as Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Arabic, Mandarin/Cantonese, Simplified/Traditional Chinese. The LAP will also hire a Language Access Officer to oversee the execution of the LAP, train HHSC staffers to adhere to the LAP, conduct intentional outreach to LEP communities of these services, and create accountability measures that empower community members/groups to evaluate the LAP.
"We are honored to partner with State Senator Menendez and State Representative Morales Shaw for taking the steps to incorporate a statewide language access plan that will help navigate language barriers which have historically impeded access to health and human services programs and benefits," said Sarah Syed, Senior Community Organizer. "Our collective efforts will help ensure that all Texans, regardless of their language proficiency, can access the resources they need to thrive."
Woori Juntos is co-leading the Texas Language Justice Collective with over 15+ community-based organizing stakeholders composed of community organizations, members, advocates, and health and human services providers. They represent a significant strategic effort to address long-standing disparities in access to services and resources among marginalized populations.
Together, we will fight for the advancement of both SB 2080 and HB 5166 during the 88th Legislative Session. If passed, it would represent a critical and necessary step forward to ensure that language is never a barrier to care for our limited English speaking community members in Texas.