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On August 11, 2000, the President signed Executive Order (E.O.) 13166, "Improving Access to Services for Persons
with Limited English Proficiency". The E.O.
requires Federal agencies to examine the services they
provide, identify any need for services to those with limited
English proficiency (LEP), and develop and implement a system
to provide those services so LEP persons can have meaningful
access to these services. It is expected that agency
plans for implementation will provide for such meaningful
access consistent with, and without unduly burdening, the
fundamental mission of the agency. The E.O. requires
agencies to develop and begin to implement action plans within
120 days of the date of the E.O.
To assist agencies in developing plans to comply with this
E.O., the Department of Justice published a general guidance
document in the Federal Register on August 16, 2000, which
sets forth the compliance standards that recipients must
follow to ensure that the programs and activities they
normally provide in English are accessible to LEP persons
and
do not discriminate on the basis of national origin in
violations of
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
amended, and its implementing regulations. For
additional information refer to Department
of Justice guidance.
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