A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO HIRE QUALIFIED INTERPRETERS BASED IN LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL PUBLIC HEALTH LAWS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year.  These funds shall be used to hire qualified interpreters based in local health departments to ensure public health compliance with federal law requiring agencies receiving federal funds to provide language services for limited English proficient clients.  These funds may also be used by local health departments to provide incentives to recruit and hire bilingual staff and to train interpreters.
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.