Legal Obligations Under the Civil Rights Act

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

No person in the United States shall, on ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance


Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, any agency that receives federal funding is required to provide interpreters for persons of limited English proficiency. The agency must do this at its own expense. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the agency should also:

  • Conduct an assessment of the need for language services
  • Develop a comprehensive written policy and procedures
  • Provide staff training
  • Provide notice to LEP persons about their rights to language assistance
  • Translate vital documents.

Title VI applies to all services, programs and agencies that receive federal funding. The State of Maryland has a similar law in The Annotated Code of Maryland State Government Article 10-1101-1104. The law requires agencies that receive State funding to:

  • Provide interpreters for LEP clients, at no cost to clients
  • Provide translations of vital forms and documents ordinarily provided to the public into any language spoken by 3% or more of the population within that geographic jurisdiction
  • Use any additional methods necessary to ensure equal access to services