IL SB2877

Requires contested case hearing notices to include a multilingual enclosure (in English, Arabic, Cantonese, Gujarati, Korean, Mandarin, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Urdu, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese) notifying recipients of the right to request interpretive assistance and language translation, with written or sight translation requests due within 7 days of service.

Mandates administrative law judges inquire whether self-represented litigants or witnesses need interpretive assistance and document this determination in the hearing record; knowledge of some English does not disqualify a person from receiving an interpreter.

Requires agencies to appoint foreign language interpreters at no cost to self-represented litigants, witnesses, or indigent persons who request interpretive assistance or are determined by the judge to need it for substantive hearings; agencies must continue or postpone hearings if a qualified foreign language interpreter is unavailable.

Permits non-certified interpreters only in nonsubstantive hearings (those addressing procedural matters, not substantive rulings) after the judge examines them for competency; requires all interpreters to swear affidavits regarding accuracy, impartiality, confidentiality, and lack of involvement in the case.

Specifies that waivers of language assistance provisions must be provided in both English and the party's preferred language and must be in signed written form.