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i � . <br /> ; , . <br /> ' ' rt ' � 6.1. C. - Page 20 <br /> APPENDIX B <br /> GOVERNMENT CODE <br /> SECTION 7290-7299.8 <br /> 7290. This chapter may be known and cited as the Dymally-Alatorre <br /> Bilingual Services Act. <br /> 7291. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the effective <br /> maintenance and development of a free and democratic society depends <br /> on the right and ability of its citizens and residents to communicate <br /> with their govemment and the right and ability of the government to <br /> communicate with them. <br /> The Legislature further finds and declares that substantial <br /> numbers of persons who lzve, work and pay taxes in this state are <br /> unable, either because they do not speak or write English at all, or <br /> _ because their primary language is other than English, effectively to <br /> communicate with their governznent. The Legislature further finds and <br /> declares that state and local agency employees frequently are unable <br /> ta communicate with persons rec}uiring their services because of this <br /> language barrier. Therefore, substantial nurnbers of persons <br /> presently are being denied rights and beneftts to which they would <br /> otherwise, be entitled. <br /> It is the intention of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to <br /> provide for effective commurucation between ail levels of government <br /> in this state and the people of this state who are precluded from <br /> utilizing public services because of language barriers. <br /> 7292. (a) Every state agency, as defined in Section 11000, except <br /> the State Compensation Insurance Fund, directly involved in the <br /> furnishing of information or the rendering of services to the public <br /> whereby contact is made with a substantial number of <br /> non-English-speaking people, shall employ a sufficient number of <br /> qualified bilingual persons in public contact positions to ensure <br /> provision of information and services to the public, in the language <br /> of the non-English-speaking person. <br /> (b} For the purposes of this chapter, the furnishing of <br /> information or rendering of services includes, but is not limited to, <br /> providing public safety, protection, or prevention, administering <br /> state benefits, implementing public programs, managing public <br /> resources or facilities, holding public hearings, and engaging in any <br /> other state program or activity that involves public contact. <br /> 7293, Every local public agency, as defined in Section 54951, <br /> serving a substantial number of non-English-speaking people, shall <br /> employ a sufficient number of qualified bilingual persons in public <br /> 12 <br />