Primary Department: District Courts
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Richard Woods
Secondary Department: Choose an item.
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official:
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Policy
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for approval of funding needed to setup the new Language Access Office (LAO) for the District Courts to be used to create and hire four (4) positions needed to implement phase one of the LAO.
end
Background and Discussion:
In December 2024, the Harris County District Courts and County Courts at Law adopted a Language Access Plan (LAP) to provide limited English proficient (LEP) individuals language access services (LAS) that include interpretation and translation services.
The LAP provides LEP individuals LAS in a manner that complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), its implementing regulations, state statutes, and the Texas Constitution. To the extent funding and resources are made available, the Harris County Courts are committed to prioritizing, creating, and/or expanding the availability of LAS to LEP participants in criminal, civil, family, and juvenile court proceedings. The Courts are also dedicated to ensuring that everyone has equal access to justice. Accordingly, this LAP enables the delivery of culturally sensitive LAS tailored to diverse communities while upholding due process requirements.
Phase one of implementing the LAP requires funding so that the Language Access Office (LAO) for District Courts can hire a full-time Manager, Program Coord...
Click here for full text