This is about growing opportunities for families to thrive. "This is so much more than just taking an exam. Nubia Peña, director of the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs, added that the legislation goes beyond just making the test more accessible or improving public safety. "People ask, 'Well, don't they have to understand what they're doing?' Absolutely, but have you seen the manual? Have you tried taking the test? It's about comprehension as well." "Sometimes it's one word," Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said. Luz Escamilla, who sponsored SB216, said many individuals with little or no English skills were failing the driver's license test multiple times because of minor language comprehension issues. However, HB141 seeks to expand upon that law and would allow individuals to take the test in their preferred language and to use an interpreter. The new language offerings are thanks to SB216, a law passed last year that required the test to be offered in the top five languages spoken in the state other than English.
Officials said Spanish is the most requested language, followed by Mandarin. 2, when the Driver License Division began offering the test in Spanish, Tongan, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Portuguese.
The Utah Department of Public Safety said about 800 individuals have requested to take the test in a language other than English since Jan. SALT LAKE CITY - Demand for driver's license tests in new languages is high as the Utah Legislature considers a bill that would further expand the test's language options.