What's happening
This bill requires New York courts to collect, maintain, and publicly report non-identifying data on limited English proficient litigants and language assistance services.
Why it matters
Enhances transparency and accountability. in how courts serve limited English proficient (LEP) litigants by requiring detailed, public data reporting—enabling communities, advocates, and policymakers to assess whether language access needs are being met.
Breaks down data by court, county, and language. , which can reveal regional disparities in language services and help target improvements or resource allocation to underserved areas.
Mandates tracking of interpreter personnel and language services provided. , offering insight into staff capacity and the types of language assistance most in demand—key information for workforce planning and training.
Protects litigant privacy. by explicitly prohibiting the collection or disclosure of personally identifying information, balancing transparency with individual rights and security.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Track Court Language Needs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A754A
- Amended on third reading 1950a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.467
- Referred to judiciary
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.
Track Court Language Needs
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Latoya Joyner
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1950--A Cal. No. 467
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2019
Introduced by Sens. BAILEY, SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary -reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, in relation to requiring the office of court administration to collect and maintain data on limited English proficient litigants in the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The judiciary law is amended by adding a new section 391 to read as follows:
§ 391. Limited English proficient litigants' data. 1. For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(a) "primary language" means the dominant language a litigant speaks in everyday situations, including but not limited to their home, work, school, and community environments;
(b) "limited English proficient (LEP) litigant" means a participant in a legal proceeding, whose limited ability to speak or understand the English language, has created a communications barrier to understanding his or her legal rights or impairs his or her ability to participate fully in court programs or services; and
(c) "language assistance services" means oral and written services needed to assist LEP litigants to communicate effectively with court personnel and to provide LEP litigants with meaningful access to, and an equal opportunity to participate fully in, court programs or services, so that LEP litigants are placed in the same position as similarly situated persons for whom there is no such barrier.
2. The office of court administration shall collect and maintain data on all limited English proficient litigants in all courts within this state; provided, however, that such data shall not be collected from
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00094-08-9
S. 1950--A 2
those courts designated as town or village courts. At a minimum, the office of court administration shall collect and maintain data on the following:
(a) the number of limited English proficient litigants who are litigants in courts within this state, disaggregated by court and county, and the primary language of such litigants;
(b) the number of such limited English proficient litigants served, disaggregated by court and county, the type of language assistance services provided and the primary language of the litigant served; and
(c) the number of interpreter personnel employed by the courts, disaggregated by court and county and the language translated or interpreted by such personnel.
3. The office of court administration shall make the data required by this section publicly available on its website, provided, however, that such data shall not include identifying information and nothing in this section shall be construed to permit the office of court administration to use, disseminate, or publish any identifying information, including a litigant's name, date of birth, social security number, docket number, or other unique identifier.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the judiciary law, in relation to requiring the office of court administration to collect and maintain data on limited English proficient litigants in the state
Purpose or general idea of bill
To require OCA to collect and maintain data on all limited English proficient individuals who are litigating in New York State Courts.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill adds a new section 391 to amend the judiciary law, defining such terms as "primary language," "limited English profi- cient litigant," and "language assistance services." The section also mandates the collection and maintenance of relevant data in certain courts across our State.
Section two sets forth the effective date.
Justification
New York State has approximately 5.5 million residents who are not native English speakers, and approximately 2.5 million New Yorkers with limited English proficiency (LEP). Seeking to address the needs of this large and growing population of New Yorkers, Governor Cuomo in October 2011 signed Executive Order No. 26. This order requires all state agen- cies that provide direct public services to New Yorkers to begin trans- lating essential forms, instructions, and other documents in the six- most common languages spoken across the state. Under Executive Order No. 26, agencies must also provide interpretation services in clients' primary language, regardless of whether it is one of the six-most common languages spoken in our state. State agencies were required to begin providing these services by October 6, 2012.
While this Order was a significant step forward in meeting the needs of LEP New Yorkers seeking services from state agencies, the Order does not specifically cover LEP New Yorkers engaged in one form or another with our state courts. OCA is not specifically covered by the Executive Order. OCA's efforts in providing translation services to LEP parties in our courts is commendable, but, unfortunately, far from comprehensive.
This legislation seeks to bridge the gap. By requiring OCA to collect and maintain data on LEP litigants disaggregated by court and county, this legislation lays the groundwork for a more comprehensive approach to the translation needs of all LEP New Yorkers. The goal is to ensure equitable access to our courts regardless of the language spoken by the parties.
Legislative history of the bill
2017-18: A.1936-A - Amended on third reading
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.