LOS ANGELES COUNTY
DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH
  Policy 602.01 Bilingual Bonus
 
  PROCEDURES
  1. DMH may administer examinations and establish eligible lists for some positions with foreign language skills as a requirement.
     
    1. Candidates tested for bilingual proficiency as part of the examination process, if successful, are issued a Language Proficiency Certificate.
       
    2. Successful candidate names are placed on the eligible lists. DMH may select candidates from the eligible lists when the foreign language skills are needed, including translation of materials and/or interpretation services by diverse DMH Programs/Units.
       
    3. Candidates who are selected from the eligible lists are employed on the condition that they use their bilingual skills while holding the position and may participate in translation of materials or interpretation services upon solicitation by various DMH Programs/Units.

       
  2. The bilingual bonus is authorized, canceled, or continued by making a request through the Personnel Action Request (PAR) System.
     
  3. The Deputy Director or designee at the level of Program Manager requesting interpretation/translation services can retrieve the Bilingual Bonus Employee List from the DMH Human Resources Bureau (DMH-HRB) Processing Unit at (213) 972-7006.
     
  4. A Request for Interpretation/Translation Services (RITS) form (Attachment 1) should be sent to a supervisor at the level of Program Manager or above. The RITS must be signed by the Program Manager.Denied RITS will necessitate the processing of a new RITS. The requestor can contact the HRB Manager for consultation of denials.
     
  5. Programs requesting translation/interpretation services shall be responsible for coordination of all logistical aspects involving the translation/interpretation request.
     
  6. A copy of all approved RITS should be sent to the DMH Ethnic Services Manager at the Program Support Bureau, Quality Improvement Division, via fax number (213) 252-8747.
     
  7. The Deputy Director or designee at the level of Program Manager who finds the need to meet the public service responsibility of communicating with foreign language clientele can submit a Request for Bilingual Bonus Authorization/Termination/Continuation.
     
    1. If the employee passes the proficiency examination, the Bilingual Coordinator shall attach a copy of the Language Proficiency Certification to the Request for Bilingual Bonus form and submit the request to the Departmental Human Resources Manager or designee for approval.
       
  8. The Deputy Director or designee at the level of Program Manager determines whether a given assignment requires a bilingual employee.
     
  9. The Deputy Director or designee at the level of Program Manager has responsibility for authorizing a bilingual bonus.
     
    1. Supervisory levels are not to be delegated final authority to approve a bilingual bonus.
       
  10. The DMH-HRB Staff shall review the Request for Bilingual Bonus form and complete the Human Resources Use Only section.
     
  11. DMH-HRB Staff shall determine the effective date when no requested effective date is indicated.
     
  12. DMH-HRB Staff shall notify the appropriate requestor if the Bilingual Bonus form is not approved as submitted.
     
  13. The DMH-HRB Processing Staff shall enter the information into electronic Countywide Accounting and Purchasing System (eCAPS). The Request for Bilingual Bonus form, along with a copy of the Language Proficiency Certificate, shall be filed in the employee's Official Personnel Folder.
     
  14. Authorization to receive the bilingual bonus terminates whenever the employee is rated less than competent in an official Performance Evaluation, begins an unpaid leave, has been on a continuous leave of absence for sixty (60) days, changes pay location, changes classification, demotes, promotes, or transfers between County departments.
     
  15. The Deputy Director or designee at the level of Program Manager must terminate the bonus via a PAR, but no later than five (5) business days, after eligibility ceases.
     
  16. The Deputy Director or designee at the level of Program Manager has the responsibility for resubmitting a bilingual bonus authorization to reinstate the bonus, via a PAR, when a transaction or event which terminates the bilingual bonus has taken place.
     
  17. Payment of the bilingual bonus may only be authorized as long as the facts upon which it is based continue to exist and the employee continues to remain eligible.
     
  18. Salary employees certified to receive the bilingual bonus established in County Code Section 6.10.140 shall receive additional compensation at the rate specified by the Board of Supervisors. Hourly employees shall receive additional compensation at the hourly rate specified by the Board of Supervisors.
     
  19. In no event shall such compensation be effective before the employee is certified or before the first day of his/her assignment to the qualifying position.
     
  20. At least annually, DMH-HRB shall audit all work locations with employees receiving a bilingual bonus.
     
    1. The Deputy Director or designee at the level of Program Manager for that work location shall confirm in writing that the employee identified as receiving a bilingual bonus meets the criteria as set forth in the eligibility section of this policy.
       
  21. On a monthly basis the Payroll staff shall notify the DMH-HRB Bilingual Bonus Coordinator to stop payment of the bilingual bonus for those employees receiving the bonus but have been on a continuous leave absence for sixty (60) calendar days.
     
  22. The Deputy Director or designee at the level of Program Manager has the responsibility to terminate a bilingual bonus when the qualifying conditions no longer exist, such as, no longer required to use the foreign language on the job.
     
  23. The DMH-HRB is responsible for maintaining a current list of employees receiving bilingual bonus. The list shall be categorized by employee name, payroll title, pay location, language, and language competency level. This list can be accessed by DMH managers by contacting DMH-HRB.