1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to political parties; requiring interpretation services for members of a 
1.3 	language minority in certain circumstances;amending Minnesota Statutes 2018, 
1.4 	sections 202A.155; 202A.156.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 202A.155, is amended to read:
1.7 	202A.155 INTERPRETER SERVICES; CAUCUS MATERIALS.
1.8 	An individual who is deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing, or who is a member of a 
1.9 	language minority, who needs interpreter services at a precinct caucus shall so notify the 
1.10 	major political party whose caucus the individual plans to attend. Notice must be given by 
1.11 	letter or electronic mail to the state office of the major political party before the precinct 
1.12 	caucus date. The major political party shall promptly attempt to secure the services of one 
1.13 	or more interpreters if available and shall assume responsibility for the cost of the services 
1.14 	if provided. An interpreter provided for a member of a language minority must be certified 
1.15 	by the American Translators Association. The state central committee of the major political 
1.16 	party shall determine the process for reimbursing interpreters.
1.17 	A visually impaired individual may notify the county or legislative district committee 
1.18 	of the major political party whose precinct caucus the individual plans to attend, that the 
1.19 	individual requires caucus materials in audio tape, Braille, or large type format. Upon 
1.20 	receiving the request, the county or legislative district committee shall provide all official 
1.21 	written caucus materials as soon as they are available, so that the visually impaired individual 
1.22 	may have them converted to audio tape, Braille, or large print format prior to the precinct 
1.23 	caucus.

2.1 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 202A.156, is amended to read:
2.2 	202A.156 INTERPRETER SERVICES AND ACCESSIBLE PRECINCT CAUCUS 
2.3 	EXEMPTIONS.
2.4 	A major political party is not required to:
2.5 	(1) provide an interpreter for a convention or precinct caucus if it has made documented 
2.6 	good faith efforts to locate and assign an interpreter, including contacting an interpreter 
2.7 	referral center or regional service center for people who are deaf, deafblind, and 
2.8 	hard-of-hearing, or for people who are members of a language minority, and no interpreters 
2.9 	are available; or
2.10 	(2) hold a precinct caucus at a place that meets the accessibility standards for precinct 
2.11 	polling places specified in section 204B.16, subdivision 5, if it has made documented good 
2.12 	faith efforts to locate and secure an available accessible site within a reasonable distance 
2.13 	of the precinct, and no accessible site is available.