What's happening
This bill requires public health information to be available in both written and electronic form in the eight most spoken languages in New York.
Why it matters
Improves access to health information for non-English speakers. By mandating public health information in the eight most spoken languages, the bill helps ensure that key health findings, alerts, and guidelines reach immigrant and minority communities who might otherwise face language barriers.
Reduces health disparities and promotes equity. Making important medical and public health information widely understandable can help bridge gaps in health outcomes linked to language, supporting fairer access to care, prevention, and treatment options.
Modernizes and standardizes information delivery. By specifying both written and electronic formats, the bill responds to changing technology use and ensures that people can access crucial health information regardless of their preferred medium or literacy level.
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Who cares
State Board of Professional Medical Conduct
The bill would require its publicly disclosable information, findings, conclusions and determinations to be published in written and electronic form in the eight languages most spoken in New York.
Department of Health
The bill would require public information covered by the amended health-information title to be provided in written and electronic form in the same eight languages.
New Yorkers who speak the state's most common languages
The bill would give them access to covered medical conduct and health information in those languages, both in writing and electronically.
Headline styles
Publish Health Info in 8 Languages
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 40
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
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.
Health Info in 8 Languages
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Kevin S. Parker
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3501
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. KIM -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to information disseminated to the public by the state board of professional medical conduct and by the department of health relating to health information
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 230 of the public health law is amended by adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
20. All information, findings, conclusions and determinations which are authorized or required to be disclosed to the public shall be published in both written and electronic form in the eight languages which are most spoken in this state.
§ 2. Section 2997-a of the public health law, as added by chapter 542 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
§ 2997-a. Public access. 1. Nothing in this title shall abridge public access to information currently available or permitted by any other provision or rule of law. Nothing in this title shall not authorize the disclosure of otherwise confidential information, except pursuant to the express terms of this title.
2. All information made available to the public pursuant to this title shall be provided in both written and electronic form in the eight languages which are most spoken in this state.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have became a law; provided that, effective immediately, any rules and regulations or any other action necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be completed on or before such date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05189-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.