S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5604
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 27, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. KAVANAGH, COLTON, ORTIZ -- Multi-Sponsored by --
M. of A. COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Housing
AN ACT to authorize the New York city housing authority to conduct a
survey of housing developments under its control for the purpose of
determining the percentage of non-English proficient residents in such
developments and requiring institution of language assistance programs
at public housing developments at which more than ten percent of the
residents do not speak English
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Not later than January 1, 2017, and every three years ther-
eafter, the New York city housing authority shall conduct a survey of
each public housing development under its control to determine the
percentage of residents in each development who are not proficient in
English and ascertain the languages in which such residents are profi-
cient. If more than ten percent of the residents of a given development
are non-English proficient, the development shall establish a language
assistance program where non-English proficient residents would have
effective access to communicate with development supervisors and person-
nel in a language in which they are proficient. This program shall
include, but not be limited to:
a. employing a minimum of one person proficient in one or more
languages spoken by the non-English proficient residents of the develop-
ment, so as to ensure that every resident of the development has access
to at least one staff member who speaks at least one language spoken by
such resident;
b. considering proficiency in one or more of the non-English
language(s) spoken at the development as a major criterion in the hiring
process;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03182-01-5
A. 5604 2
c. ensuring that all staff members are trained on how to properly
utilize New York city housing authority's Language Services Unit to
properly communicate with residents; and
d. providing translation of all commonly used forms and informational
materials into the primary language.
S 2. Within 30 days of the institution of a language assistance
program at a development, the development management shall prepare a
notice of the availability of the language assistance programs for non-
English proficient residents and shall mail such notice to the homes of
the development's non-English proficient residents. The notice shall be
written in the residents' primary language and shall specify the name
and contact information for the bilingual employees employed by the
development.
S 3. Each development shall keep a record documenting its language
assistance program and shall submit a summary report annually to the New
York city housing authority. Such record and report shall include, but
not be limited to:
a. The number of non-English proficient residents who receive such
assistance;
b. The number of non-English proficient households where one resident
is English language proficient;
c. The number of complaints filed by non-English proficient or limited
English proficient residents; and
d. The number of bilingual personnel used to assist in the language
assistance and translation services.
S 4. The New York city housing authority shall promulgate such rules,
regulations and standards as may be necessary and proper to implement
the provisions of this act, including the undertaking of the survey, the
establishment of the language assistance programs and the monitoring of
such programs to ensure on-going compliance by the developments at which
the programs are instituted.
S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.