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Who cares
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Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to aging
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to providing language access services to individuals relating to the tax abatement program
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Alec Brook-Krasny
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S7203
Title of bill
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to providing language access services to individuals relating to the tax abatement program for rent-controlled and rent-regulated property occupied by senior citizens or persons with disabilities
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would require municipalities that have the senior citizen rent increase exemption (SCRIE) and disabled rent increase exemption (DRIE) program to ensure that individuals who have difficulty speaking or understanding English would have the same opportunity to participate in the SCRIE/DRIE program as other individuals.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. This bill would require municipalities that offer the SCRIE/DRIE program to develop and implement a plan to make sure that individuals who have trouble speaking or understanding English have adequate access to the program. This plan would include:
o Translation of necessary documents into the six most common non-English languages spoken in the municipality; o Provision of interpretive services upon request; and o Provision of assistive services upon request or demonstrated need to individuals who require such assistance due to partial or total deafness, blindness, speech impediment, or cognitive impairment.
Section 2. Effective Date
Justification
New York City contains a vibrant array of cultures and ethnicities across the boroughs. All of these communities have senior citizens on fixed incomes that would benefit from participation in the SCRIE program. Many of these individuals speak languages other than English. It is unacceptable for seniors in need to be denied access to such an important program because they cannot understand the forms or cannot readily speak with agency staff
While some strides have been made to correct this disparity, with all of the services and technology available, the municipalities can do more. Any senior who is eligible, regardless of their language or assistance needs, should have the opportunity to participate in the SCRIE program. It is vital that municipalities make this kind of inclusiveness a priority.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.