Page 2 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, FEbRuARy 10, 2023 ANGELO’S A FULL SERVICE 1978-2023 Celebrating 45 Years in Business! 197 Regular Unleaded $3.089 Mid Unleaded $3.979 Super $4.099 Diesel Fuel $4.379 KERO By Container Only Heating Oil at the Pump DEF $4.759 HEATING OI 24-Hour Burner Service Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! Open an account and order online at: www.angelosoil.com (781) 231-3500 (781) 231-3003 367 LINCOLN AVE • SAUGUS Sun. 9AM-5PM DiDomenico and advocates unveil legislation to expand language access in government agencies L ast week State Senator Sal DiDomenico joined a collection of policymakers, immigrants’ rights activists with the Mass Speaks Coalition, and directly impacted individuals to unveil his Language Access and Inclusion Act (SD.1066), which would dramatically expand the availability of non-English language applications and interpretation services at the state’s public-facing state agencies, such as MassHealth, the Department of Children and Families, and the Department of Unemployment Assistance. The Language Access and Inclusion Act was fi rst introduced in 2021 by Senator DiDomenico, Representative Adrian Madaro and Representative Carlos González. The bill received 25 cosponsors across the House and Senate and was favorably reported out of the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Advocates at last week’s press conference said the bill is critically needed in Massachusetts, where onein-10 residents are considered limited English profi cient. “Language access is critiAdvocate Online: www.advocatenews.net cal for the well-being and daily lives of so many people living in our Commonwealth, especially the residents of my district and throughout gateway communities,” said Senator DiDomenico, who is Assistant Majority Leader of the Massachusetts Senate. “Non-English-speaking residents should be able to access government services, from public health information to education to unemployment and more crucial resources. I Language access press conference with directly impacted individuals. Pictured from left to right: the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition’s Director of Legislative Aff airs, Amy Grunder, State Rep. Carlos González, State Rep. Adrian Madaro and State Sen. Sal DiDomenico. am proud to partner with the Mass Speaks Coalition on this important piece of legislation and look forward to working with them to get this bill across the fi nish line.” An Act relative to language access and inclusion, which was Introduced as SD.1066 by Senator Sal DiDomenico of Everett and HD.3616 by Representatives Madaro of East Boston and González of Springfield, mandates that public-facing state agencies provide interpretation services and translate vital documents in non-English languages. Additionally, the bill would outline minimum language accessibility standards, cultivate best practices and ensure staff capacity and training across public-facing state agencies. It would also create an advisory board with representatives from limited English-speaking communities, the deaf or hard-of-hearing community, and community groups/legal service providers to help agencies implement the law. Claudia, a Massachusetts resident who moved from Brazil, shared her story through an interpreter: “It got to the point where any problem I had to solve with public or private companies became an anguish, a torment, something disturbing that I often gave up solving.” The push to pass the Language Access and Inclusion Act comes on the heels of the state’s 2022 move that was led by Senator DiDomenico, who secured funding to bolster language access resources at the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Then, the state allocated funding for services, programs and activities to expand language access. Advocates hailed that move as a strong step in the right direction, especially considering how public-facing the RMV is, but said it is critical that the state build off of this success and implement language access reform across all public-facing state agencies. The Mass Speaks Coalition includes the Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice and the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (an affi liate of South Coastal Counties Legal Services). Prices subject to change Ask about our Heating Oil Conditioner! FLEET
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