What's happening
This bill requires the state to provide public health information in the eight most spoken languages in New York, both in written and electronic forms.
Why it matters
Improves access to health information for non-English speakers. By requiring public health information to be available in the eight most spoken languages, the bill helps ensure that immigrant and limited-English-proficient communities receive crucial updates about health issues, rights, and regulations.
Promotes health equity and informed decision-making. Multilingual information can reduce disparities in healthcare outcomes by empowering more New Yorkers to understand and act on public health guidance, medical findings, and official notices.
Supports emergency preparedness and response. In times of public health crises (like disease outbreaks), rapid and clear communication in multiple languages can help contain risks and ensure compliance with health directives across diverse communities.
Imposes new operational requirements on state agencies. The Department of Health and related boards will need to allocate resources for high-quality translations and ongoing updates, which may increase administrative costs but also demonstrates a commitment to serving New York's diverse population.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Translate Health Info
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.
Translate Health Info Statewide
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
2376
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2019
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.
LBD03810-01-9
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.