New York S 4170: Ensures language assistance services by state agencies and requires state agencies to maintain records and to submit an annual report on language services

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S04170 Summary:

BILL NOS04170 

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SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORPARKER

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add §55-d, Civ Serv L

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Ensures language assistance services by state agencies; requires state agencies to maintain records of the primary language spoken by any individual seeking such assistance; requires state agencies to submit an annual report on language services.

Go to top S04170 Actions:

BILL NOS04170 

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02/03/2025REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

01/07/2026REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS

Go to topS04170 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS04170 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS04170 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 4170

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 February 3, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions

 AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to language assist-
 ance services by state agencies

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The civil service law is amended by adding a new section
 2 55-d to read as follows:
 3 § 55-d. Ensuring language assistance services by state agencies. 1.
 4 Every agency shall provide language assistance services to all limited
 5 English proficient individuals so as to ensure that all such individuals
 6 who cannot speak, read, write or understand the English language with
 7 the proficiency necessary for adequate communication with agency person-
 8 nel have effective access to the agency's programs and services. Every
 9 agency shall ensure that all individuals providing language assistance
 10 services to limited English proficient individuals have sufficient
 11 fluency in both English and the relevant language to communicate infor-
 12 mation necessary for such individual to access services. Language
 13 assistance services for primary and non-primary languages shall be
 14 available at all agency locations open for public business, and shall,
 15 to the extent practicable, be provided in person. Translation of all
 16 frequently used forms and other written materials that are essential to
 17 access agency services shall be available in all of the agency's primary
 18 languages. The president shall develop and implement a comprehensive
 19 language assistance plan that establishes uniform policies and proce-
 20 dures for providing language assistance services by all agencies,
 21 including procedures for documenting the provision of or refusal of
 22 language assistance services, and that requires training to ensure that
 23 all staff who have contact with limited English proficient individuals
 24 comply with the plan. Such person providing language assistance services

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD07754-01-5

 S. 4170 2

 1 may be a qualified interpreter, voluntary worker or other personnel
 2 currently employed by the agency.
 3 2. All agencies shall provide written notice as to the availability of
 4 language assistance services, including oral interpretation and trans-
 5 lations of forms and other materials. Notice of availability of language
 6 assistance services shall also be posted in conspicuous agency locations
 7 open for public business in all primary languages.
 8 3. All agencies shall maintain a record of the primary languages
 9 spoken by any individual seeking or receiving language assistance
 10 services at such agency. Such information shall be recorded whether or
 11 not such individual actually obtains such service.
 12 4. (a) All agencies shall submit to the president an annual report
 13 assessing its compliance with the requirements of this section. The
 14 report shall identify the primary languages used by the public, and the
 15 percentage of the agency's interaction with the public who speak each
 16 primary language.
 17 (b) All agencies shall maintain a record of the foreign language
 18 primarily spoken by any individual seeking or receiving language assist-
 19 ance services at the agency. Such information shall be r