What's happening
This bill authorizes translation of housing legal forms and applications into Spanish and other languages spoken by at least 1% of the population.
Why it matters
Improves access to housing resources for non-English speakers. By requiring translations for any language spoken by at least 1% of the population, the bill helps ensure that major immigrant and minority communities can better understand and complete critical housing forms.
Reduces risk of misunderstandings and legal errors. With translated forms, tenants and applicants are less likely to make mistakes or miss important information due to language barriers, potentially reducing disputes, delays, and wrongful denials.
Promotes equity in public services. The bill pushes government agencies to proactively serve diverse populations, making housing services more inclusive and less dependent on applicants’ English proficiency.
Places implementation responsibility on the housing commissioner. The act empowers and obligates the commissioner to determine which languages meet the threshold and to oversee timely translation and distribution, creating accountability for follow-through.
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Who cares
Division of Housing and Community Renewal
Its commissioner would be authorized to prescribe translations of legal forms and applications and would have to arrange their preparation, printing and distribution.
Spanish-speaking applicants
The bill would authorize Spanish translations of legal forms and applications.
Speakers of other languages
The commissioner could authorize translations into other languages deemed appropriate, provided the language is spoken by at least one percent of the population.
Headline styles
Housing Forms in More Languages
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3639
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to authorize the commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal to prescribe certain forms in different languages
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal is authorized to prescribe for legal forms and applications to be translated into Spanish and any other languages as such commissioner deems appropriate, as long as such language is spoken by at least one percent of the population. Such commissioner shall further cause such translated forms and applications to be prepared, printed and disseminated.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that effective immediately, the commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal shall make and complete the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06611-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to authorize the commissioner of the division of housing and community renewal to prescribe certain forms in different languages
Purpose or general idea of bill
To provide that some legal forms of the housing division also be distributed in languages other than English.
Summary of specific provisions
The bill authorizes the Commissioner to distribute housing forms in languages spoken by at least one percent of the population. The languages to be used are as the commissioner consider suitable.
Justification
This bill is necessary to protect those in the state of New York who cannot read in the English language. It will help them better understand the forms needed to obtain proper housing.
Prior legislative history
2015-16:S.1537 -Referred to Housing 2013-14:S.3218 -Referred to Housing 2011-12:S.1127-Referred to Housing 2009-10:S.293/A.4520 - Referred to Housing 2007-08:A.4629 -Referred to Housing 2005-06:A.3941 -Referred to Housing 2003-04:A.5362-Referred Housing 2002-03:A.10449- Referred to Housing
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law, with provisions.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.