New York Senate Bill S04249 Latest Draft

   
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4249 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 3, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. PARKER, COMRIE, RIVERA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the access to public services for non-English speakers act The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known as the "Access to 2 Public Services for Non-English Speakers Act". 3 § 2. Legislative findings and purpose. The legislature hereby finds 4 and declares that: 5 1. thousands of residents cannot access the public services provided 6 by state departments, agencies and programs because of their inability 7 or limited ability to speak, understand or read the English language; 8 and 9 2. non-English speakers must have access to these important state 10 programs. 11 The purpose of this act is to provide individuals with limited English 12 proficiency equal access to state departments, agencies and programs. 13 § 3. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 14-A to read 14 as follows: 15 ARTICLE 14-A 16 ACCESS TO PUBLIC SERVICES FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS ACT 17 Section 280. Definitions. 18 281. Language access required. 19 282. Schedule implementation. 20 § 280. Definitions. For purposes of this article, the following words 21 shall mean the following: 22 1. "Equal access" means to be informed of, participate in, and benefit 23 from public services offered by a state department, agency, or program, 24 at a level equal to English proficient individuals. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD07942-01-5 
 S. 4249 2 1 2. "Limited English proficiency" means the inability to adequately 2 understand or express oneself in the spoken or written English language. 3 3. "Oral language services" includes various methods to provide verbal 4 information and interpretations such as staff interpreters, bilingual 5 staff, telephone interpreter programs, and private interpreter programs. 6 4. "Vital documents" means applications or informational materials, 7 notices and complaint forms offered by state departments, agencies and 8 programs. "Vital documents" does not include applications and examina- 9 tions related to the licensure, certification or registration of busi- 10 nesses and professionals. 11 § 281. Language access required. 1. Each state department shall take 12 reasonable steps to provide equal access to public services for individ- 13 uals with limited English proficiency. 14 2. Reasonable steps to provide equal access to public services 15 include: 16 (a) In-house oral language services for individuals with limited 17 English proficiency, if contact between any agency and individuals with 18 limited English proficiency is on a weekly or more frequent basis. 19 (b) The translation of vital documents ordinarily provided to the 20 public into any language spoken by any limited English proficient popu- 21 lation that constitutes at least three percent of the overall population 22 within the geographic area served by a local office of a state agency, 23 as measured by the U.S. Census. 24 (c) Any additional methods or means necessary to achieve equal access 25 to public services. 26 3. Each state department shall adopt regulations regarding the 27 requirements of this article at least six months prior to the date of 28 full implementation for that department. 29 4. The department, in consultation with the office of the attorney 30 general, shall provide central coordination and technical assistance to 31 departments and agencies to help them comply with this article. 32 § 282. Schedule implementation. The provisions of this article shall 33 be fully implemented according to the following schedule: 34 1. The department of labor, the department of health and the office of 35 children and family services on or before January first, two thousand 36 twenty-six. 37 2. The department of correctional services and the department of 38 transportation and the office for the aging on or before January first, 39 two thousand twenty-seven. 40 3. All other departments or agencies on or before January first, two 41 thousand twenty-eight. 42 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.