What's happening
This bill requires New York state agencies to provide website links to non-English materials for services offered to the public.
Why it matters
Improves access for non-English speakers. By ensuring that links to non-English materials are clearly provided, the bill helps individuals with limited English proficiency more easily find information about state services they may need, reducing barriers to access.
Promotes equity in public service delivery. The amendment acknowledges the diversity of New York’s population and aims to make state resources more inclusive, supporting equitable treatment regardless of language background.
Increases transparency and trust. Mandating that state agencies provide direct links to translated materials increases the transparency of government operations and may foster greater trust among immigrant and non-English speaking communities.
Could influence agency operations and priorities. Agencies may need to reassess which languages are “spoken by a substantial number of the public served,” potentially leading to broader translation initiatives or changes in how online materials are organized and maintained.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Link Websites to Translations
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
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.
Requires state departments, divisions, commissions, agencies and other entities which have a website to provide a link on such website to non-English information
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Felix Ortiz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3085
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 19, 2017
Introduced by Sens. SERRANO, KRUEGER, PARKER, PERALTA, SANDERS, SQUADRON -- 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 requiring state agencies to provide certain information in non-English languages
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 164-e to read as follows:
§ 164-e. Website material. Any state department, division, commission, agency or any other entity of the state which maintains a website which provides any materials explaining services which such department, division, commission, agency or other entity of the state provides to the public and which is translated into a non-English language spoken by a substantial number of the public served by any such state entity shall provide a link on its website to appropriate non-English information.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07770-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring state agencies to provide certain information in non-English languages
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure the availability of information on any website maintained by an entity of the state, for people of this state who are precluded from utilizing the website because of a language barrier.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill stipulates that any website maintained by an entity of the state which provides materials explaining the services of the entity and which is translated into a non-English language spoken by a substantial number of the public served by any such entity, shall provide a link on its website to appropriate non-English information.
Effects of present law which this hill would alter
The executive law is amended by adding a new section 164-e.
Justification
The Internet has been making a marked increase in the impact on the people of this state. Many people refer to the websites of state departments, divisions, commissions, agencies, and other entities of the state, for information regarding services available. There is a substantial number of people who live, work and pay taxes in this state who are unable to effectively make use of these websites, either because they do not speak or write English at all, or because their primary language is other than English. As a result, a substantial number of people are presently being denied information on services that would otherwise be available.
Enactment of this bill will ensure that any information on a website maintained by an entity of the state is available for any persons of this state to whom English is not a primary language.
Prior legislative history
2001/02 - A.9398 - Referred to Governmental Operations 2003/04 - A.3842 - Referred to Governmental Operations 2005/06 - A.4309 - Advanced to Third Reading Cal. 250 2007/08 - A.3960 - Advanced to Third Reading Cal. 663 2009/10 - S.6883 - Ordered to Third Reading Cal. 259 2011-12 - S.2746 - Referred to Finance 2013-14 - S.916 - Referred to Finance 2015-16 - S.960 - Referred to Finance
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Unknown.
Effective date
This act shall take effect 90 days after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.