HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-019 - Urging the Governor of the State of California to Sign Assembly Bill 2325SRC 03/26/2014
RESOLUTION NO. 2014 -019
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA ANA URGING THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA TO SIGN ASSEMBLY BILL 2325, WHICH CREATES
"COMMUNI -CAL" - A PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES RELIABLE
ACCESS TO LANGUATE INTERPRETATION FOR MEDI -CAL
BENEFICIARIES WHO ARE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, California has been long recognized as one of the most racially and
linguistically diverse states with residents who speak over 200 languages; and approximately
one in five Californians is limited English proficient (LEP) and identifies as speaking English
less than well; and language access and the right to interpretation services is required under
Title VI of the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Dymally - Alatorre Bilingual Services Act of
1973 (Chapter 17.5 (commencing with Section 7290) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government
Code), the Knox -Keene Healthcare Services Plan Act of 1975 (Chapter 2.2 (commencing with
Section 1340) of Division 2 of the Health and Safety Code), Section 11135 of the Government
Code, Section 1259 of the Health and Safety Code, and California Civil Rights law; and
WHEREAS, The demand for medical interpretation services by Medi -Cal beneficiaries is
significant, with 45.2 percent of Medi -Cal beneficiaries speaking a language other than
English; and the state will experience an even greater demand for language services as health
care reform measures are implemented over the next few years and 35 percent of Californians
expected to become newly eligible for Medi -Cal as a result of the federal Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111 -148) will speak English less than well; and
WHEREAS, In California, language assistance services are currently provided in an
uncoordinated manner that lacks transparency and accountability, and a majority of services
are currently provided ad hoc by family members and friends or untrained staff; and California
has the opportunity to meet the growing demand early on by accessing millions of dollars in
federal matching funds to provide medical interpretation services to LEP Medi -Cal
beneficiaries; and professional medical interpretation services help reduce avoidable medical
errors and provider malpractice liability for physicians and other healthcare providers; and a
coordinated program to offer medical interpreter services will improve health care outcomes for
LEP Californians and help control healthcare costs that result from a lack of access to
preventative and primary care,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of Santa Ana supports and encourages
the Governor of the State of California to sign Assembly Bill 2325 and hereby directs the Clerk
of the Council to send a copy of this resolution to Governor Jerry Brown, Senate President pro
Tempore Darrell Steinberg, and Speaker of the Assembly John A. Perez.
Resolution No. 2014 -019
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SECTION 2. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City
Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this
Resolution.
ADOPTED this 15" day of April, 2014.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By: /L'�Dj Q��
rA. Car tho, City Attorney
AYES: Councilmembers: Amezcua Benavides Martinez, Pulido, Reyna,
Sarmiento, Tinaiero (7)
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN: Councilmembers: None (0)
NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers: None (0)
CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY
I, MARIA D. HUIZAR, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached
Resolution No. 2014 -019 to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of
Santa Ana on April 15, 2014.
Date: '601')wly
Clerk of the Council
City of Santa Ana
Resolution No. 2014 -019
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