Bill > S1670

Introduced Session

An act relating to limited English-proficient voter assistance; creating s. 97.027, F.S.; defining terms; requiring a supervisor of elections or a political subdivision that administers an election to provide certain language-related assistance to a limited English-proficient voter under certain circumstances, record such voter’s language preference, and conduct specified surveys of such voters; requiring a supervisor of elections or political subdivision to provide elections and voting materials of a certain quality in a covered language; requiring the manual translation of English language text; authorizing the use of automatic translation services under certain circumstances; requiring that elections and voting materials prepared in a covered language be made available at the same time as comparable English language materials; requiring a supervisor of elections and a political subdivision to operate and provide public notice of a language assistance hotline; providing requirements for the hotline; requiring a supervisor of elections and a political subdivision to provide certain notices in a covered language under certain circumstances; requiring a supervisor of elections or a political subdivision to replicate certain signs and posters in certain covered languages and display or distribute such signs and posters in the same form and manner as English language signs and provide specified voter registration status and information to limited English-proficient voters; requiring a governmental entity responsible for redistricting to provide certain translation services and translated materials; providing requirements for such translation services; requiring that translation services provided under the act be in compliance with certain federal laws; authorizing voters and specified entities to bring an action against a supervisor of elections or a political subdivision; providing that such actions are subject to expedited pretrial and trial proceedings and must receive a calendar preference to avoid prejudice with regard to the limited English proficient voter; requiring a court to grant certain relief upon making specified determinations; requiring the court to order the implementation of specified remedies; authorizing the plaintiff to recover attorney fees and costs if the plaintiff prevails under a specified circumstance; prohibiting a prevailing defendant from recovering attorney fees and costs unless certain circumstances exist; requiring a supervisor of elections or a political subdivision to collect specified data and annually, by a specified date, publish a report including the data collected; creating the Language Access Advisory Council within the Department of State; providing the purpose of the council; requiring the Secretary of State to appoint certain members to the council; requiring the Secretary of State to consider specified criteria in making such appointments; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Victor Torres (D)*, 

Died in Ethics and Elections (on 03/08/2024)

Official Document