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Approved December 11, 2001  <br />department’ program or activity; and notices advising LEP persons of free language <br />assistance. <br /> <br />The term “vital” depends upon the importance of the program, service, information or <br />encounter involved. Large documents may have both vital and non-vital information. <br />Written translation of only vital information is required. An appropriate “rule of thumb” in <br />determining vital information in a document that requires translation is: <br /> <br />o A Department should provide written translation of vital documents for each eligible <br />LEP language group that constitutes 5% or 1,000, whichever is less, of the persons <br />eligible to be served or likely to be affected or encountered. Translation of other <br />documents can be provided orally; <br />o If there are fewer than 50 persons in a language group that reaches the 5% trigger, <br />then departments do not have to translate vital materials but should provide written <br />notice in the primary language of the LEP language group of their right to receive <br />competent oral translation of the written materials, free of cost. <br /> <br />Please note: This applies only to the written translation of information in vital documents. <br /> <br /> Electronic Information. Unless already in place, each Department that maintains a web <br />page accessible to members of the general public should include information on the <br />availability of language assistance through or by the Department. Where documents in <br />languages other than English are placed on or accessible through the web page, <br />information on their availability should be included in the appropriate languages on the <br />web home page or other initial point of access. <br /> Signage. Where signage within a publicly accessible building maintained or <br />administered by a Department is provided in English, it will also be provided, <br />at a minimum and as soon as reasonably practical, in the two most common <br />non-English languages spoken in the County. In determining the two most <br />common non-English languages in the County, Departments should look at <br />available census data, and identify populations where more than 25% of the <br />people within a language group speak English less than well.4 Signage in fewer <br />languages is warranted where current demographic data establishes that the <br />population potentially served by the Department or facility does not include more <br />than one language minority group that satisfies the 25% standard. Each <br />Department will develop a signage implementation timetable including, where <br />appropriate, reasonable delays necessitated by the lack of current data on LEP <br />populations. <br />3. Department-Specific Language Assistance Initiatives. In addition to the uniform <br />language initiatives applicable to the department engaging in programs and activities <br />warranting language assistance measures, departments will implement additional <br />language assistance measures warranted by their particular programs, activities, and/or <br />target/service population and forward them to the Department of Human Rights and <br />Relations (HRR) to compile and forward to the County Manger. <br />                                                             <br />4 “Available data” includes but is not limited to language and demographic census information pertaining to Orange <br />County. <br />11