Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan

Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan

The Town of Flower Mound promotes a positive and cooperative understanding of the importance of language access to federally conducted and federally assisted programs. While most individuals in the United States read, write, speak and understand English, there are many individuals whose primary language is not English. Individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have limited ability to read, write, speak or understand English are considered by federal law to be Limited English Proficient, or “LEP”. This language barrier may prevent individuals from accessing services and benefits and they may be entitled to language assistance with respect to a particular type of service, benefit or encounter.

Federal law requires that people who are LEP have meaningful access to federally conducted and federally funded programs and activities. Moreover, federal agencies are required to ensure that recipients of federal financial assistance provide meaningful access to their LEP constituencies.

Two federal documents provide the foundation for the development of the LEP plan: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Executive Order 13166 “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency,” signed in 2000. Title VI stipulates that agencies should take reasonable actions to provide language assistance. Executive Order 13166 requires agencies to examine the services provided and develop and implement a system by which LEP persons can meaningfully access those services.

According to 2019 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, the LEP population, as a percentage of the total population in Denton County is small. About 2.9% of the Denton County population speaks “limited” English. That equates to about 8,996 out of 305,164 households. An examination of the population within the Town of Flower Mound indicates the LEP population is even smaller than Denton County at 1.1%, or about 296 out of 27,199 households.

Based on the likelihood and frequent changes in documents and other relevant factors, at this time the Town of Flower Mound believes it to be an unnecessary burden to have documents translated. The Town Secretary’s Office, the primary repository of Town documents, contracts, policies, Council actions and ordinances, has not, to date, received a request for translation services or interpretation services from the public or from internal staff.

The Town of Flower Mound is mindful of the LEP population in the region and is prepared to meet any language need that arises and respond appropriately to any requests that are made for language assistance. The Town of Flower Mound is ready to provide oral and written translation of documents if asked to do so. The Town of Flower Mound will provide language assistance when requested.