S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9928
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 27, 2020
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to providing language
translation services to accommodate census self-reporting
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 154 to
read as follows:
§ 154. CENSUS-RELATED TRANSLATION SERVICES TO STATE AGENCIES AND
LOCALITIES. 1. CENSUS-RELATED TRANSLATION SERVICES SHALL BE EXTENDED TO
THOSE WHO EXPRESS A NEED BEYOND THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE UNITED
STATES CENSUS BUREAU. THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, BY AND THROUGH THE SECRE-
TARY OF STATE OR DULY AUTHORIZED OFFICERS OR EMPLOYEES, SHALL HAVE THE
FOLLOWING STATE AGENCY AND LOCALITY OVERSIGHT FUNCTIONS, IN REGARD TO
CENSUS-RELATED TRANSLATION SERVICES:
(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL IDENTIFY EXISTING TRANSLATION SERVICES, AND
SHALL WORK WITH STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER RELEVANT STATE INSTITUTIONS TO
DETERMINE IF THESE TRANSLATION SERVICES MAY BE UTILIZED AS CENSUS-RELAT-
ED TRANSLATION SERVICES. IN ADDITION TO EXISTING TRANSLATION SERVICES,
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL WORK TO IDENTIFY EXPANDED TRANSLATION SERVICES
WHICH SHALL INCLUDE AS MANY LANGUAGES AS POSSIBLE, PROVIDED HOWEVER,
THESE EXPANDED TRANSLATION SERVICES, AT A MINIMUM, ARE MADE AVAILABLE IN
ALL LANGUAGES USED WITHIN CENSUS SELF-REPORTING FORMS.
(B) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONNECT STATE AGENCIES, MUNICIPALITIES, AND
OTHER RELEVANT STATE OR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS WITH ALL IDENTIFIED TRANS-
LATION SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSES OF PROVIDING QUALITY CENSUS-RELATED
TRANSLATION SERVICES TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(C) TO ENSURE THE SERVICES LISTED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION
ARE EFFECTIVELY PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC, STATE AGENCIES AND LOCALITIES
ARE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE PUBLIC OF THE AVAILABILITY OF TRANSLATION
SERVICES IDENTIFIED FOR SELF-REPORTING IN THE DECENNIAL CENSUS. SUCH
NOTICE SHALL INCLUDE POSTING INFORMATION ONLINE, WORKING WITH ANY RELE-
VANT ORGANIZATIONS TO REACH LIMITED OR NON-PROFICIENT ENGLISH SPEAKERS,
AND ANY OTHER MEANS IDENTIFIED AS EFFECTIVELY PROVIDING NOTICE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14223-05-0
A. 9928 2
2. ON OR BEFORE APRIL FIRST OF EACH YEAR FOLLOWING A DECENNIAL CENSUS,
COMMENCING WITH APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE, THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR, THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET, THE
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE ON THE
PRIOR YEAR'S CENSUS-RELATED TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR LIMITED ENGLISH
PROFICIENCY SPEAKERS. THE REPORT SHALL IDENTIFY THE TRANSLATION SERVICES
OR PROGRAMS UTILIZED BY STATE AGENCIES, LOCALITIES, AND OTHER RELEVANT
STATE OR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS FOR CENSUS-RELATED TRANSLATION SERVICES IN
THAT YEAR. IN ADDITION, THE REPORT SHALL INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE
IMPROVEMENT OF THESE SERVICES FOR THE FOLLOWING DECENNIAL CENSUS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.