Bill > H3207

This bill requires the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants, in collaboration with several state departments including Public Health, Mental Health, Children and Families, Elementary and Secondary Education, Higher Education, and Transitional Assistance, to identify areas where culturally competent services are needed. Culturally competent services are defined as the ability of a department to provide direct services to a client in their native language, delivered by a professional with at least two years of experience working with a population similar to the client's. To assess this need, the Office for Refugees and Immigrants will gather existing data on services provided by these departments and collect population data for each municipality, identifying ethnic groups that constitute at least 2% of the population, their languages, countries of origin, and estimated numbers. Finally, by March 31, 2016, the Office for Refugees and Immigrants must submit a report to the governor and legislative clerks detailing areas needing culturally competent services and proposing recommendations, including draft legislation or regulations, to improve access to these services.