# Division 45. Language Access

Codified through Bill No. CB-018-2026, adopted May 12, 2026, effective July 24, 2026. Source: Municode, Supplement 2026 Update 2. Editorial notes and legislative history omitted.

## Division 45. Language Access

### Sec. 2-513. Definitions

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-513 (2026)

(a) Access shall mean to be informed of, participate in, and benefit from public services, programs, and activities offered by a covered entity at a level equal to English language proficient individuals.

(b) Covered entity shall mean any County government agency, department, or program that furnishes information or renders services, programs, or activities directly to the public or contracts with other entities, either directly or indirectly, to conduct services, programs, or activities.

(c) Covered entity with major public contact shall mean a covered entity whose primary responsibility consists of meeting, contacting, and dealing with the public.

  (1) Covered entities with major public contact are:

    (A) Health Department

    (B) Department of Social Services

    (C) Department of Family Services

    (D) Department of Housing and Community Development

    (E) Housing Authority

    (F) Office of Human Resources Management

    (G) Police Department

    (H) Department of Corrections

    (I) Fire Department

    (J) Office of Central Services

    (K) Department of Public Works and Transportation

    (L) Department of Permitting, Inspection and Enforcement

    (M) Office of Finance

    (N) Office of Law

    (O) Office of Community Relations

    (P) Office of Human Rights

    (Q) Department of the Environment

    (R) County Council

(d) Language Access Compliance Program Coordinator shall mean an employee working for the covered entity or covered entity with major public contact, responsible for developing, implementing, maintaining and overseeing all agency programs and services in compliance with the Language Access for Public Services Act of 2017, including, ensuring the agency provides meaningful access and proper communication about all programs and activities to Limited English Proficient (LEP) and Non-English Proficient (NEP) individuals and prevent language-based discrimination complaints. This position shall be in the agency's Office of the Director and should report to agency Director, or Deputy Director, and the Language Access Compliance Program Director.

(e) Language Access Compliance Program Director shall mean the official in the Office of Human Rights who monitors the activities of the County agencies, departments, and programs undertaken to comply with the provisions of this Division in each agency.

(f) Language Access Compliance Program Monitor (LACPM) shall mean the Language Access Compliance Program's employee in charge of monitoring covered entities' compliance with the Language Access for Public Services Act of 2017. Some of LACPM's major responsibilities are: (a) conducting language access compliance assessments, (b) providing language access technical assistance and training, (c) investigating language access public complaints, and (d) enforcement.

(g) Language Access Compliance Program Analyst (LACPA) shall mean the Language Access Compliance Program's employee in charge of providing administrative support to the Language Access Compliance Program everyday operations. Some of LACPA's major responsibilities are: (a) receiving and providing guidance to language access inquiries from covered entities' LACPCs, (b) collecting language access data quarterly from covered agencies, (c) writing compliance reports and, (d) conducting outreach to LEP/NEP communities.

(h) Language Access Primary and Secondary Liaisons shall mean the employees appointed by the Program Manager or Supervisor to fulfill the program's language access duties and responsibilities, and to provide support to the covered agency's Language Access Compliance Program Coordinator.

(i) Limited English proficient (LEP) shall mean a person for whom English is not his/her primary language and who has a limited ability to speak, read, write or understand English;

(j) Non-English proficient (NEP) refers to a person who cannot speak, read, write or understand English;

(k) Oral language services shall mean the provision of oral information necessary to enable limited or non-English proficiency residents to access or participate in programs or services offered by a covered entity. The term "oral language services" may include placement of bilingual staff in public contact positions; the provision of experienced and trained staff interpreters; contracting with telephone interpreter programs; contracting with private interpreter services; and using interpreters made available through community service organizations that are publicly funded for that purpose.

(l) Vital documents shall mean applications, notices, complaint forms, legal contracts, and outreach materials published by a covered entity in a tangible format that inform individuals about their rights or eligibility requirements for benefits and participation, as well as health and safety information. The term "vital documents" shall include tax related educational and outreach materials produced by the Office of Finance but shall not include tax forms and instructions.

(m) Mass mailings shall mean materials distributed via mail to the entire County.

(n) Language Access Rights Banner is a pull up banner that states, in the County's top 10 spoken languages, "You have the right to ask for an interpreter and get help in your language for free. If your request is denied, call the Prince George's County Office of Human Rights (OHR) at 301-883-6170 to file a complaint."

(o) Language Identification Desktop Poster is a small poster designed to assist limited or non-English proficiency residents to identify and point out their language of preference as well as providing awareness that interpretation services are available. The poster features the County's top 20 spoken languages.

### Sec. 2-514. Scope

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-514 (2026)

(a) The provisions of this Division shall apply to all County government agencies that constitute a covered entity as defined by Section 2-513(b) of the County Code and a covered entity with major public contact as defined by Section 2-513(c) of the County Code. Any and all contracting requirements under this Division shall be prospective and shall not impair or extinguish current and existing contracts made by the County.

### Sec. 2-515. Oral language services provided by covered entities

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-515 (2026)

(a) A covered entity shall designate a Language Access Compliance Program Coordinator to coordinate requests for access to oral language services to a person with limited or non-English proficiency who seeks to access or participate in the services, programs, or activities offered by the covered entity.

(b) A covered entity shall, at least annually, determine the type of oral language services needed based upon:

  (1) The number or proportion of limited or non-English proficient persons of the population served or encountered, or likely to be served or encountered by the covered entity, in the County;

  (2) The frequency with which limited or non-English proficient individuals come into contact with the covered entity;

  (3) The importance of the service provided by the covered entity; and

  (4) The resources available to the covered entity.

(c) In making the determination under subsection (b) of this Section of the type of oral language services needed, the covered entity shall consult the following sources of data to determine the languages spoken and the number or proportion of limited or non-English proficient persons of the population that are served or encountered, or likely to be served or encountered, by the covered entity in the County:

  (1) The United States Census Bureau's most current report entitled "Language Use and English Ability, Linguistic Isolation" (or any other successor report);

  (2) Any other language-related information;

  (3) Census data on language ability indicating that individuals speak English "less than very well";

  (4) Local census data relating to language use and English language ability; and

  (5) Other governmental data, including intake data collected by covered entities; data collected by the Prince George's County Public School System; and data collected by and made available by County government offices that conduct outreach to communities with limited-English proficient populations and that serve as a liaison between the County government and limited-English proficient populations.

(d) The County shall annually collect data about the languages spoken and the number or proportion of limited or no-English proficient persons speaking a given language in the population that is served or encountered, or likely to be served or encountered, by the covered entity. A covered entity's databases and tracking applications shall contain fields that will capture this information during the fiscal year that this Division takes effect with respect to the covered entity. All information collected under this Section shall be provided to the Language Access Director and made available to the public, upon request, within a reasonable time.

### Sec. 2-516. Written language services provided by covered entity

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-516 (2026)

(a) A covered entity shall designate a Language Access Compliance Program Coordinator to coordinate requests for written translations of vital documents and mass mailings into any non-English language spoken by a limited or non-English proficient population that constitutes 5% or 10,000 individuals, whichever is less, of the population served or encountered, or likely to be served or encountered, by the covered entity in the County. In addition, a covered entity shall provide written translations of vital documents into any non-English language when requested.

(b) If the provisions of this Division are contractually imposed on a non-covered entity, subsection (a) of this Section shall also apply.

### Sec. 2-517. Additional obligations of covered entities with major public contact

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-517 (2026)

(a) A covered entity with major public contact shall establish a language access plan.

(b) Each language access plan shall be established in consultation with the Language Access Compliance Program Director, the entity's Language Access Compliance Program Coordinator, and agency directors that conduct outreach to limited or non-English populations. Each language access plan shall be updated every 2 years and shall set forth, at minimum, the following:

  (1) The types of oral language services that the entity will provide and how the determination was reached;

  (2) The titles of translated documents that the entity will provide and how the determination was reached;

  (3) The number of contact positions in the entity and the number and language type of bilingual employees in public contact positions;

  (4) An evaluation and assessment of the adequacy of the services to be provided; and

  (5) A description of the funding and budgetary sources upon which the covered entity intends to rely to implement its language access plan.

(c) In establishing and updating the language access plan, the entity shall consult with the sources of data set forth in Section 2-515(c) of the County Code.

(d) A covered entity with major public contact shall develop a plan to conduct outreach to communities with limited or non-English proficient populations about their language access plans and about the benefits and services to be offered under this Division.

(e) A covered entity shall create and update on an ongoing basis the agency's Language Access Compliance Policy and Standard Operating Procedures based on the Language Access Compliance Program Director's template Languages Access Policy and Standard Operating Procedures and ensure that agency personnel are aware of their language access responsibilities.

(f) Covered entities shall display the Language Identification Desktop Poster at every reception and customer service desk. Covered entities shall display the Language Access Rights Banner in all agency public facilities including mobile locations.

### Sec. 2-518. Language access oversight; duties of Language Access Compliance Program Director

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-518 (2026)

(a) The Office of Human Rights shall provide oversight, monitoring, and investigation and enforcement of covered entities in their implementation of the provisions of this Division and report annually to the County Council and County Executive to ensure that the provision of services by covered entities meets acceptable standards of translation or interpretation.

(b) There shall be within the Office of Human Rights a Language Access Compliance Program Director and two Language Access Compliance Program Monitors and one Language Access Compliance Program Analyst to monitor activities under this Division. The Language Access Compliance Program Director shall:

  (1) Review and monitor each covered entity's language access plan for compliance with this Division and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, approved July 2, 1964 (78 Stat. 252; 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d through 2000d-7);

  (2) Provide guidance and supervision to the Language Access Compliance Program Analyst and Language Access Compliance Program Monitors, who track and investigate public complaints regarding language access violations at covered entities, and where necessary, issue written findings of noncompliance to the covered entities regarding failures to provide language access; provided that this responsibility shall not supersede or preclude the existing individual complaint process and mechanism under the jurisdiction of the Office of Human Rights;

  (3) Provide policy guidance, training, supervision, and technical support to covered agencies' Language Access Compliance Program Coordinators (LACPCs) to ensure they obtain the necessary knowledge management tools and skills to bring their agencies into compliance with the responsibilities under this Division;

  (4) Consult with Language Access Compliance Program Coordinators and the heads of government offices that conduct outreach to communities with limited or non-English proficient populations;

  (5) Serve as the Language Access Compliance Program Director for the Office of Human Rights; and

  (6) Through the County Executive, by regulation, designate additional covered entities with major public contact.

  (7) Develop and update Language Access Policy and Language Access Standard Operating Procedures Template for covered agencies.

### Sec. 2-518.01. Duties of Language Access Compliance Program Coordinators

Prince George's County, Md., Code § 2-518.01 (2026)

The Language Access Compliance Program Coordinators shall:

(1) coordinate requests for access to oral language services to a person with limited or non-English proficiency who seeks to access or participate in the services, programs, or activities offered by the covered entity and covered entity with major contact in the County; and

(2) coordinate requests for written translations of vital documents into any non-English language spoken by a limited or non-English proficient population that constitutes 5% or 10,000 individuals, whichever is less, of the population served or encountered, or likely to be served or encountered, by the covered entity and covered entity with major contact in the County.

(3) conduct language access compliance assessments on agency's programs and services to identify issues, writes reports and provides recommendations; develops and implements the agency's language access compliance plan.

(4) work under the guidance of the Language Access Compliance Program Director to develop the agency's Language Access Policy and Standard Operating Procedures and ensure that agency personnel are aware of their language access responsibilities.

(5) provide policy guidance to the agency's executive team, managers and supervisors.

(6) meet the data collection and, quarterly and annual reporting requirements of the Act to the Office of Human Rights, Language Access Compliance Program.

(7) develop and conduct in-person Language Access Compliance Trainings to staff and provide technical support.

(8) receive and investigate and language access complaints against the agency, and immediately report and work with the agency's Director, and the Language Access Compliance Program Director to resolve them.

(9) conduct outreach to limited English proficient communities.

(10) work with agency's Director or budget officer to develop and implement an annual budget and procurement strategy for contracting language access service vendors, as well as advising the agency on language access procurement and budgeting related expenses.