Language Restrictions in the Workplace
Representative Sánchez has been the lead sponsor of An Act Opposing Unnecessary Language Restrictions in the Workplace, which would make it generally illegal for employers to use workplace language restrictions like “English Only” rules. It would allow employees the freedom to use the language of their choice at the workplace. An employer could still implement restrictions, provided it does not affect the efficient operation of the business; any such restrictions must be effectively and thoroughly communicated to the employees along with an explanation of the consequences for violating these policies.
This bill would prevent employees from being dismissed for simply speaking their native language in the workplace—reflecting long-standing federal policies against the imposition of English-only rules in the workplace. Other states, such as California, have begun to take the lead to ensure that, while not specifically protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, language is not a basis for discrimination.
Sánchez believes it is imperative that the legislature act to implement a state law to protect employees from unjust discrimination in the workplace.
Bilingual Ballots
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Sánchez sponsored and filed An Act Regarding the Preparation of Certain Ballots in the City of Boston, which passed into law, requiring the city of Boston to prepare Chinese and Vietnamese bilingual ballots with transliteration of candidates’ names.
The law applies only to elections held in the city of Boston, but includes elections at the municipal, state, and federal level. Chinese/English and Vietnamese/English bilingual ballots will be available in those precincts where the linguistic population is concentrated.
When bilingual ballots ended in 2008, Chinese and Vietnamese populations lacking English speaking skills were at a loss—now, this population will be able to vote easily.
With bilingual ballots, United States citizens whose primary language is Chinese or Vietnamese will be able to vote freely and independently. Bilingual ballots are most needed by the elderly, who have the most difficulty learning English.
Immigration Reform
During the 2011 fiscal year House budget debate, Sánchez successfully put to study and defeated an amendment that would have required all agencies providing public benefits to use the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system to determine non-citizen eligibility for assistance—extraordinarily costly and burdensome to implement for many agencies, especially to those with few immigrant applicants.
Numerous safeguards currently exist in benefit programs to keep fraud to ineligible immigrants minimal, such as fines, jail time, and immigrant notification. Agencies should not have to spend disproportionate sums of money or completely redesign current eligibility determination processes to verify immigrant eligibility.
While the debate regarding immigration reform has not reached resolution, the federal government, which includes the President and members of the House and Senate, must enact immigration policy immediately.