What's happening
This bill requires that driver's license tests and forms in New York City be available in Punjabi, Bengali, and Hindi.
Why it matters
Expands access to essential government services. by ensuring that Punjabi, Bengali, and Hindi speakers in New York City can more easily obtain a driver's license, potentially improving mobility, employment opportunities, and civic participation for these communities.
Addresses barriers faced by immigrant populations. who may have limited English proficiency, making the licensing process less daunting and reducing the risk of errors or misunderstandings on official forms and driving tests.
Promotes linguistic equity and inclusion. by establishing a precedent for providing translation and interpretation services in high-demand languages, which could encourage similar measures for other languages in the future and in other public service contexts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
DMV Forms in Three Languages
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
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.
DMV Forms in Three Languages
In Assembly Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Michael G. Miller
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4620
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 22, 2017
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring certain motor vehicle forms and applications to be available in Punjabi, Bengali and Hindi
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 502 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
8. Forms to be made available in certain foreign languages. Except as otherwise prohibited by federal law, rule or regulation the commissioner shall, within a city having a population of one million or more, ensure that all written tests, forms and applications for an initial learner's permit or driver's license issued pursuant to the provisions of this article are also available in Punjabi, Bengali and Hindi and provide translation and interpretation services in such languages to a person applying for such learner's permit or driver's license in such city, upon his or her request. Nothing contained in this subdivision shall be deemed to prohibit the commissioner from making such tests, forms, applications, and translation and interpretation services available in other languages.
§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02707-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring certain motor vehicle forms and applications to be available in Punjabi, Bengali and Hindi
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to require the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide forms, tests and applications for permits and driver's licenses in Punjabi, Bengali, & Hindi. Translation and interpretation services will also be made available upon request.
Summary of provisions
The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to section 502 to require the Department of Motor Vehicles, except as otherwise prohibited by federal law, rule or regulation, to make learner's permit and driver's license written tests, forms and applications available in New York City in Pun-jabi, Bengali and Hindi, and to provide translation and interpretation services in such City upon applicant request.
Justification
In order to better serve the needs of a growing South Asian population within New York State, this bill is intended to make forms, tests and applications for permits and driver's licenses accessible in Punjabi, Bengali, and Hindi. This bill is to ensure that individuals have a better understanding of what is required from the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Legislative history
2015-16: A.679 2013-14: A.8233
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect one year 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.