S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5236
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 26, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, the public authorities  law  and  the
   county law, in relation to requiring certain documents and forms to be
   provided in multiple languages

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative findings and  intent.  The  legislature  hereby
 finds that as New York's immigrant population continues to grow, inabil-
 ity to access documents translated into languages that community members
 read  and  lack  of  interpretation of government services and resources
 into languages that community members speak are major  barriers  to  the
 advancement  of the state's immigrant population. However, currently New
 York only requires translation services into six languages, based on  an
 Executive  Order signed in 2011, leaving many New Yorkers without access
 to translation in languages they speak, and  none  of  the  current  six
 languages  are widely spoken among immigrants from the African continent
 or the Middle East. Translation is also only mandatory in a  handful  of
 executive specific agencies, instead of across all subdivisions of state
 and county government. The legislature believes language access improves
 the  lives  of  immigrants  by  increasing opportunities for employment,
 business ownership, and other vital services, while making staff time at
 state agencies and authorities more efficient,  benefiting  all  of  New
 York.
   § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 49-C to read
 as follows:
                               ARTICLE 49-C
                              LANGUAGE ACCESS
 SECTION 996. LANGUAGE ACCESS.
   §  996.  LANGUAGE  ACCESS.  1.  EACH STATE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES DIRECT
 PUBLIC SERVICES SHALL TRANSLATE  VITAL  DOCUMENTS,  INCLUDING  ESSENTIAL

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD09702-01-1

 S. 5236                             2
 
 PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SUCH AS FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO OR COMPLETED
 BY  PROGRAM  BENEFICIARIES  OR  PARTICIPANTS.  SUCH TRANSLATION SHALL BE
 AVAILABLE IN THE TWELVE MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH  LANGUAGES  SPOKEN  BY
 LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT IMMIGRANTS OF FIVE YEARS OR LESS ACCORDING TO
 THE  AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS
 BUREAU.
   2. EACH SUCH AGENCY SHALL ADDITIONALLY MAKE SUCH  TRANSLATIONS  AVAIL-
 ABLE  WITHIN  EACH REGION OF THE STATE, AS ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE ELEVEN
 OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW, IN THE THREE  MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH
 LANGUAGES  WHICH ARE SPOKEN IN THAT REGION BY LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT
 IMMIGRANTS OF FIVE YEARS OR LESS, ACCORDING TO  THE  AMERICAN  COMMUNITY
 SURVEY,  AS  PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, WHICH ARE NOT
 ALREADY INCLUDED AMONG THE TWELVE LANGUAGES SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION ONE
 OF THIS SECTION.
   3. THE LIST OF MOST COMMON LANGUAGES SHALL BE UPDATED EVERY TWO YEARS,
 BASED ON THE MOST RECENT AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA, AS PUBLISHED BY
 THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU.
   4. EACH AGENCY SHALL PROVIDE INTERPRETATION SERVICES BETWEEN THE AGEN-
 CY AND AN INDIVIDUAL IN THEIR  PRIMARY  LANGUAGE  WITH  RESPECT  TO  THE
 PROVISION OF SERVICES OR BENEFITS.
   5.  WITHIN  NINETY  DAYS  OF  THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, EACH
 AGENCY SHALL PUBLICLY PUBLISH A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN WHICH REFLECTS  HOW
 THE  AGENCY  WILL  COMPLY  WITH THE LANGUAGE ACCESS REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
 SECTION, AND SHALL SET FORTH, AT A MINIMUM:
   (A) WHEN AND BY WHAT MEANS THE  AGENCY  WILL  PROVIDE  OR  IS  ALREADY
 PROVIDING LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES;
   (B) THE TITLES OF ALL AVAILABLE TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS AND THE LANGUAGES
 INTO WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED;
   (C)  THE  NUMBER  OF  PUBLIC  CONTACT  POSITIONS IN THE AGENCY AND THE
 NUMBER OF BILINGUAL EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC CONTACT POSITIONS INCLUDING  THE
 LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK;
   (D) A TRAINING PLAN FOR AGENCY EMPLOYEES WHICH INCLUDES, AT A MINIMUM,
 ANNUAL TRAINING ON THE LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICIES OF THE AGENCY AND HOW TO
 PROVIDE LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES;
   (E)  A  PLAN  OF  HOW  THE  AGENCY INTENDS TO NOTIFY THE POPULATION OF
 OFFERED LANGUAGE ASSISTANT SERVICES; AND
   (F) A LANGUAGE ACCESS COORDINATOR AT THE AGENCY, WHO SHALL BE PUBLICLY
 IDENTIFIED.
   § 3. Article 9 of the public authorities law is amended  by  adding  a
 new title 13 to read as follows:
                                 TITLE 13
                              LANGUAGE ACCESS
 SECTION 2988. LANGUAGE ACCESS.
   §  2988. LANGUAGE ACCESS. 1. EACH STATE AUTHORITY THAT PROVIDES DIRECT
 PUBLIC SERVICES SHALL TRANSLATE  VITAL  DOCUMENTS,  INCLUDING  ESSENTIAL
 PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SUCH AS FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO OR COMPLETED
 BY  PROGRAM  BENEFICIARIES  OR  PARTICIPANTS.  THE  TRANSLATION SHALL BE
 AVAILABLE IN THE TWELVE MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH  LANGUAGES  SPOKEN  BY
 INDIVIDUALS  WITH  LIMITED-ENGLISH  PROFICIENCY  IN THE STATE WITHIN THE
 PAST FIVE YEARS, BASED ON THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY
 THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, AND RELEVANT  TO  SERVICES  OFFERED  BY
 SUCH AGENCY.
   2.  THE  LIST  OF  MOST COMMON LANGUAGES SHALL BE UPDATED NO LESS THAN
 EVERY TWO YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION,  BASED  ON  THE
 MOST RECENT AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES
 CENSUS BUREAU.

 S. 5236                             3
 
   3.  EACH  SUCH AUTHORITY SHALL PROVIDE INTERPRETATION SERVICES BETWEEN
 THE AGENCY AND AN INDIVIDUAL IN HIS OR HER PRIMARY LANGUAGE WITH RESPECT
 TO THE PROVISION OF SERVICES OR BENEFITS.
   4. WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, EACH SUCH
 AUTHORITY  SHALL  PUBLISH  A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN WHICH REFLECTS HOW THE
 AGENCY WILL COMPLY WITH THE LANGUAGE  ACCESS  REQUIREMENTS  PURSUANT  TO
 THIS SECTION, AND SHALL SET FORTH, AT A MINIMUM:
   A.  WHEN  AND  BY  WHAT MEANS THE AUTHORITY WILL PROVIDE OR IS ALREADY
 PROVIDING LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES;
   B. THE TITLES OF ALL AVAILABLE TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS AND THE  LANGUAGES
 INTO WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED;
   C.  THE  NUMBER  OF  PUBLIC CONTACT POSITIONS IN THE AUTHORITY AND THE
 NUMBER OF BILINGUAL EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC CONTACT POSITIONS INCLUDING  THE
 LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK;
   D.  A TRAINING PLAN FOR AGENCY EMPLOYEES WHICH INCLUDES, AT A MINIMUM,
 ANNUAL TRAINING ON THE LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICIES OF THE AUTHORITY AND HOW
 TO PROVIDE LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES;
   E. A PLAN OF HOW THE  AGENCY  INTENDS  TO  NOTIFY  THE  POPULATION  OF
 OFFERED LANGUAGE ASSISTANT SERVICES; AND
   F.  A  LANGUAGE  ACCESS  COORDINATOR  AT  THE  AUTHORITY, WHO SHALL BE
 PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED.
   § 4. The county law is amended by adding a new article 24-A to read as
 follows:
                               ARTICLE 24-A
                              LANGUAGE ACCESS
 SECTION 950. LANGUAGE ACCESS.
   § 950. LANGUAGE ACCESS. 1. EVERY POLITICAL ENTITY  OF  A  COUNTY  THAT
 PROVIDES DIRECT PUBLIC SERVICES SHALL TRANSLATE VITAL DOCUMENTS, INCLUD-
 ING  ESSENTIAL  PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SUCH AS FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED
 TO OR COMPLETED BY PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES  OR  PARTICIPANTS.  THE  TRANS-
 LATION  SHALL  BE  AVAILABLE  IN  THE  TWELVE  MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH
 LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED-ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN  THE
 STATE  WITHIN  THE  PAST  FIVE  YEARS,  BASED  ON THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY
 SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, AND RELEVANT TO
 SERVICES OFFERED BY EACH OF SUCH AGENCIES.
   2. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS  SECTION,
 A  COUNTY MAY ADD ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES AS NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE LOCAL
 VARIANCES FROM STATEWIDE LANGUAGES, PROVIDED SUCH  LANGUAGES  ARE  ADDED
 AFTER PUBLIC NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
   3.  THE  LIST  OF  MOST COMMON LANGUAGES SHALL BE UPDATED NO LESS THAN
 EVERY TWO YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION,  BASED  ON  THE
 MOST RECENT AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES
 CENSUS  BUREAU, AND ANY ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES SUCH COUNTY SHALL CHOOSE TO
 SELECT.
   4. EACH SUCH POLITICAL ENTITY OF A COUNTY SHALL PROVIDE INTERPRETATION
 SERVICES BETWEEN THE ENTITY AND AN INDIVIDUAL  IN  HIS  OR  HER  PRIMARY
 LANGUAGE WITH RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF SERVICES OR BENEFITS.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  5236--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 26, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sens. KENNEDY, BIAGGI, GOUNARDES, HARCKHAM, HOYLMAN, JACK-
   SON,  LIU, RIVERA, RYAN, THOMAS -- read twice and ordered printed, and
   when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance --  recommit-
   ted to the Committee on Finance in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec.
   8  -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended
   and recommitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, the public authorities  law  and  the
   county law, in relation to requiring certain documents and forms to be
   provided in multiple languages
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative findings and  intent.  The  legislature  hereby
 finds that as New York's immigrant population continues to grow, inabil-
 ity to access documents translated into languages that community members
 read  and  lack  of  interpretation of government services and resources
 into languages that community members speak are major  barriers  to  the
 advancement  of the state's immigrant population. However, currently New
 York only requires translation services into six languages, based on  an
 Executive  Order signed in 2011, leaving many New Yorkers without access
 to translation in languages they speak, and  none  of  the  current  six
 languages  are widely spoken among immigrants from the African continent
 or the Middle East. Translation is also only mandatory in a  handful  of
 executive specific agencies, instead of across all subdivisions of state
 and county government. The legislature believes language access improves
 the  lives  of  immigrants  by  increasing opportunities for employment,
 business ownership, and other vital services, while making staff time at
 state agencies and authorities more efficient,  benefiting  all  of  New
 York.
   § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new article 49-C to read
 as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09702-03-1
 S. 5236--A                          2
              

 
                               ARTICLE 49-C
                              LANGUAGE ACCESS
 SECTION 996. LANGUAGE ACCESS.
   §  996.  LANGUAGE  ACCESS.  1.  EACH STATE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES DIRECT
 PUBLIC SERVICES SHALL TRANSLATE  VITAL  DOCUMENTS,  INCLUDING  ESSENTIAL
 PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SUCH AS FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO OR COMPLETED
 BY  PROGRAM  BENEFICIARIES  OR  PARTICIPANTS.  SUCH TRANSLATION SHALL BE
 AVAILABLE IN THE TWELVE MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH  LANGUAGES  SPOKEN  BY
 LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT IMMIGRANTS OF FIVE YEARS OR LESS ACCORDING TO
 THE  AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS
 BUREAU.
   2. EACH SUCH AGENCY SHALL ADDITIONALLY MAKE SUCH  TRANSLATIONS  AVAIL-
 ABLE  WITHIN  EACH REGION OF THE STATE, AS ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE ELEVEN
 OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW, IN THE THREE  MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH
 LANGUAGES  WHICH ARE SPOKEN IN THAT REGION BY LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT
 IMMIGRANTS OF FIVE YEARS OR LESS, ACCORDING TO  THE  AMERICAN  COMMUNITY
 SURVEY,  AS  PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, WHICH ARE NOT
 ALREADY INCLUDED AMONG THE TWELVE LANGUAGES SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION ONE
 OF THIS SECTION.
   3. THE LIST OF MOST COMMON LANGUAGES SHALL BE UPDATED EVERY TWO YEARS,
 BASED ON THE MOST RECENT AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY DATA, AS PUBLISHED BY
 THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU.
   4. EACH AGENCY SHALL PROVIDE INTERPRETATION SERVICES BETWEEN THE AGEN-
 CY AND AN INDIVIDUAL IN THEIR  PRIMARY  LANGUAGE  WITH  RESPECT  TO  THE
 PROVISION OF SERVICES OR BENEFITS.
   5.  WITHIN  NINETY  DAYS  OF  THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, EACH
 AGENCY SHALL PUBLICLY PUBLISH A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN WHICH REFLECTS  HOW
 THE  AGENCY  WILL  COMPLY  WITH THE LANGUAGE ACCESS REQUIREMENTS OF THIS
 SECTION, AND SHALL SET FORTH, AT A MINIMUM:
   (A) WHEN AND BY WHAT MEANS THE  AGENCY  WILL  PROVIDE  OR  IS  ALREADY
 PROVIDING LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES;
   (B) THE TITLES OF ALL AVAILABLE TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS AND THE LANGUAGES
 INTO WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED;
   (C)  THE  NUMBER  OF  PUBLIC  CONTACT  POSITIONS IN THE AGENCY AND THE
 NUMBER OF BILINGUAL EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC CONTACT POSITIONS INCLUDING  THE
 LANGUAGES THEY SPEAK;
   (D) A TRAINING PLAN FOR AGENCY EMPLOYEES WHICH INCLUDES, AT A MINIMUM,
 ANNUAL TRAINING ON THE LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICIES OF THE AGENCY AND HOW TO
 PROVIDE LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES;
   (E)  A  PLAN  OF  HOW  THE  AGENCY INTENDS TO NOTIFY THE POPULATION OF
 OFFERED LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES; AND
   (F) A LANGUAGE ACCESS COORDINATOR AT THE AGENCY, WHO SHALL BE PUBLICLY
 IDENTIFIED.
   § 3. Article 9 of the public authorities law is amended  by  adding  a
 new title 13 to read as follows:
                                 TITLE 13
                              LANGUAGE ACCESS
 SECTION 2988. LANGUAGE ACCESS.
   §  2988. LANGUAGE ACCESS. 1. EACH STATE AUTHORITY THAT PROVIDES DIRECT
 PUBLIC SERVICES SHALL TRANSLATE  VITAL  DOCUMENTS,  INCLUDING  ESSENTIAL
 PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SUCH AS FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO OR COMPLETED
 BY  PROGRAM  BENEFICIARIES  OR  PARTICIPANTS.  THE  TRANSLATION SHALL BE
 AVAILABLE IN THE TWELVE MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH  LANGUAGES  SPOKEN  BY
 INDIVIDUALS  WITH  LIMITED  ENGLISH  PROFICIENCY IN THE STATE WITHIN THE
 PAST FIVE YEARS, BASED ON THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY
 S. 5236--A                          3

 THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, AND RELEVANT  TO  SERVICES  OFFERED  BY
 SUCH AGENCY.
   2.  EACH  SUCH AUTHORITY SHALL MAKE SUCH TRANSLATIONS AVAILABLE WITHIN
 EACH REGION OF THE STATE,  AS  ESTABLISHED  BY  ARTICLE  ELEVEN  OF  THE
 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW, IN THE THREE MOST COMMON NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES
 WHICH ARE SPOKEN IN THAT REGION BY LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENT IMMIGRANTS
 OF  FIVE  YEARS  OR LESS, ACCORDING TO THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS
 PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS  BUREAU,  WHICH  ARE  NOT  ALREADY
 INCLUDED AMONG THE TWELVE LANGUAGES SPECIFIED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS
 SECTION.
   3.  THE  LIST  OF  MOST COMMON LANGUAGES SHALL BE UPDATED NO LESS THAN
 EVERY TWO YEARS FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION,  BASED  ON  THE
 MOST RECENT AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES
 CENSUS BUREAU.
   4.  EACH  SUCH AUTHORITY SHALL PROVIDE INTERPRETATION SERVICES BETWEEN
 THE AGENCY AND AN INDIVIDUAL IN HIS OR HER PRIMARY LANGUAGE WITH RESPECT
 TO THE PROVISION OF SERVICES OR BENEFITS.
   5. WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, EACH SUCH
 AUTHORITY SHALL PUBLISH A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN WHICH  REFLECTS  HOW  THE
 AGENCY  WILL  COMPLY  WITH  THE LANGUAGE ACCESS REQUIREMENTS PURSUANT TO
 THIS SECTION, AND SHALL SET FORTH, AT A MINIMUM:
   A. WHEN AND BY WHAT MEANS THE AUTHORITY WILL  PROVIDE  OR  IS  ALREADY
 PROVIDING LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES;
   B.  THE TITLES OF ALL AVAILABLE TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS AND THE LANGUAGES
 INTO WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED;
   C. THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC CONTACT POSITIONS IN  THE  AUTHORITY  AND  THE
 NUMBER  OF BILINGUAL EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC CONTACT POSITIONS INCLUDING THE
 LANGUAGES THEY SPEAK;
   D. A TRAINING PLAN FOR AGENCY EMPLOYEES WHICH INCLUDES, AT A  MINIMUM,
 ANNUAL TRAINING ON THE LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICIES OF THE AUTHORITY AND HOW
 TO PROVIDE LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES;
   E.  A  PLAN  OF  HOW  THE  AGENCY  INTENDS TO NOTIFY THE POPULATION OF
 OFFERED LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES; AND
   F. A LANGUAGE ACCESS  COORDINATOR  AT  THE  AUTHORITY,  WHO  SHALL  BE
 PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED.
   § 4. The county law is amended by adding a new article 24-A to read as
 follows:
                               ARTICLE 24-A
                              LANGUAGE ACCESS
 SECTION 950. LANGUAGE ACCESS.
   §  950.  LANGUAGE  ACCESS.  1. EVERY POLITICAL ENTITY OF A COUNTY THAT
 PROVIDES DIRECT PUBLIC SERVICES SHALL TRANSLATE VITAL DOCUMENTS, INCLUD-
 ING ESSENTIAL PUBLIC DOCUMENTS SUCH AS FORMS AND  INSTRUCTIONS  PROVIDED
 TO  OR  COMPLETED  BY  PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES OR PARTICIPANTS. THE TRANS-
 LATION  SHALL  BE  AVAILABLE  IN  THE  TWELVE  MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH
 LANGUAGES  SPOKEN BY INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY IN THE
 STATE WITHIN THE PAST  FIVE  YEARS,  BASED  ON  THE  AMERICAN  COMMUNITY
 SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, AND RELEVANT TO
 SERVICES OFFERED BY EACH OF SUCH AGENCIES.
   2. EACH SUCH POLITICAL ENTITY OF A COUNTY SHALL MAKE SUCH TRANSLATIONS
 AVAILABLE  WITHIN  EACH  REGION  OF THE STATE, AS ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE
 ELEVEN OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAW, IN THE THREE  MOST  COMMON  NON-
 ENGLISH  LANGUAGES  WHICH  ARE  SPOKEN IN THAT REGION BY LIMITED ENGLISH
 PROFICIENT IMMIGRANTS OF FIVE YEARS OR LESS, ACCORDING TO  THE  AMERICAN
 COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU, WHICH
 S. 5236--A                          4
 
 ARE  NOT ALREADY INCLUDED AMONG THE TWELVE LANGUAGES SPECIFIED IN SUBDI-
 VISION ONE OF THIS SECTION.
   3.  NOTWITHSTANDING THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION,
 A COUNTY MAY ADD ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES AS NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE  LOCAL
 VARIANCES  FROM  STATEWIDE  LANGUAGES, PROVIDED SUCH LANGUAGES ARE ADDED
 AFTER PUBLIC NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
   4. THE LIST OF MOST COMMON LANGUAGES SHALL BE  UPDATED  NO  LESS  THAN
 EVERY  TWO  YEARS  FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, BASED ON THE
 MOST RECENT AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY, AS PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES
 CENSUS BUREAU, AND ANY ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES SUCH COUNTY SHALL CHOOSE  TO
 SELECT.
   5. EACH SUCH POLITICAL ENTITY OF A COUNTY SHALL PROVIDE INTERPRETATION
 SERVICES  BETWEEN  THE  ENTITY  AND  AN INDIVIDUAL IN HIS OR HER PRIMARY
 LANGUAGE WITH RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF SERVICES OR BENEFITS.
   6. WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, EACH SUCH
 POLITICAL ENTITY OF A COUNTY SHALL PUBLISH A LANGUAGE ACCESS PLAN  WHICH
 REFLECTS  HOW  THE POLITICAL ENTITY WILL COMPLY WITH THE LANGUAGE ACCESS
 REQUIREMENTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, AND SHALL SET FORTH, AT  A  MINI-
 MUM:
   (A)  WHEN  AND  BY WHAT MEANS THE POLITICAL ENTITY SHALL PROVIDE OR IS
 ALREADY PROVIDING LANGUAGE ACCESS SERVICES;
   (B) THE TITLES OF ALL AVAILABLE TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS AND THE LANGUAGES
 INTO WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSLATED;
   (C) THE NUMBER OF PUBLIC CONTACT POSITIONS IN THE POLITICAL ENTITY AND
 THE NUMBER OF BILINGUAL EMPLOYEES IN PUBLIC CONTACT POSITIONS  INCLUDING
 THE LANGUAGES THEY SPEAK;
   (D)  A  TRAINING PLAN FOR AGENCY EMPLOYEES, WHICH INCLUDES, AT A MINI-
 MUM, ANNUAL TRAINING ON THE LANGUAGE ACCESS POLICIES  OF  THE  POLITICAL
 ENTITY AND HOW TO PROVIDE LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES;
   (E)  A  PLAN  OF  HOW THE POLITICAL ENTITY INTENDS TO NOTIFY THE POPU-
 LATION OF OFFERED LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE SERVICES; AND
   (F) A LANGUAGE ACCESS COORDINATOR AT THE POLITICAL ENTITY,  WHO  SHALL
 BE PUBLICLY IDENTIFIED.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.