We recognize the importance of effective and accurate communication to our customers and ratepayers.
It is the policy of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to provide Limited English Speaking Persons (LEP) with timely and effective access to the agency’s services and programs, consistent with the access provided to English speakers. All LEP and/or LEP owned businesses conducting business with or receiving services from the SFPUC will be provided free interpretive
services by bilingual staff or through the Language Line Interpretation Services (LLIS).
The SFPUC has established language access policy and procedures, consistent with the federal and state guidelines,
in compliance with San Francisco Administrative Code, Chapter 91, Language Access Ordinance, for the SFPUC
staff to follow when serving LEP.
Language Access Complaint Forms
Background
The Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco established the Equal Access to Services (EAS)
Ordinance, Chapter 91 of the Administrative Codes in 2001 for the purpose of providing “equal access” to city
services to all San Franciscans, including those with limited proficiency in English.
EAS compels city departments to provide their services in English and in the languages spoken by substantial
populations of LEP, ensuring that all residents have meaningful and equal access to critical city services. In August
2009, the ordinance was amended to strengthen its efficacy and effectiveness, and renamed the Language Access
Ordinance (LAO).
Thirteen additional city departments were added to the existing list of Tier I departments subject to the full extent
of the law. The SFPUC was added to Tier 1 departments in 2010.
The current LAO obliges Tier I City departments to provide the same level of service to LEP in various languages
as are available to all city residents. Departments subject to the Ordinance are required to utilize and hire sufficient
bilingual employees in public contact positions, translate materials, provide oral translations at public meetings,
maintain recorded telephonic messages about the department operations or services in multiple languages and file
annual compliance plans.