By Bonnie Culverhouse

More and more persons are living in the United States that may require some language interpretation.

Minden City Council voted last week to take steps to become LEP (Limited English Proficient) compliant.

“We are required to adopt a plan for LEP persons in order to receive LCDBG (Louisiana Community Development Block Grant) and any other state and federal funding,” said Minden Mayor Nick Cox. “The resolution says we will accommodate other languages. By passing this, it keeps us eligible.”

According to Title VI federal law, many individual federal programs, states and localities also have provisions requiring language services for LEP individuals. When applying for funding, written materials routinely provided in English also must be provided in regularly encountered languages other than English.

Federal law describes LEP ordinances the following way:

“It is important to ensure that written materials routinely provided in English also are provided in regularly encountered languages other than English. It is particularly important to ensure that vital documents are translated into the non-English language of each regularly encountered LEP group eligible to be served or likely to be affected by the program or activity. A document will be considered vital if it contains information that is critical for obtaining federal services and/or benefits, or is required by law. Vital documents include, for example: applications, consent and complaint forms; notices of rights and disciplinary action; notices advising LEP persons of the availability of free language assistance; prison rulebooks; written tests that do not assess English language competency, but rather competency for a particular license, job, or skill for which English competency is not required; and letters or notices that require a response from the beneficiary or client.”