Senate Bill S3430B

2021-2022 Legislative Session

Requires public officers and bodies to provide interpreters and assistive listening devices for the hearing impaired at public hearings under certain conditions

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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Bill Amendments

co-Sponsors

2021-S3430 - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Finance
Law Section:
Public Officers Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §§74-a & 103, Pub Off L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2017-2018: S8129
2019-2020: S2774

2021-S3430 - Summary

Requires public officers and public bodies to make proactive efforts to provide qualified interpreters at no charge for the hearing impaired at public meetings and hearings upon written request to the public officer responsible for the siting of such hearing; requires installation and use of assistive listening devices.

2021-S3430 - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3430 - Bill Text download pdf 

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3430
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Ethics and Internal Gover-
   nance
 
 AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to the  accessibil-
   ity of public hearings and meetings
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 74-a of the public officers law, as added by  chap-
 ter 368 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
   § 74-a. Duty of public officers regarding [the physically handicapped]
 ACCESSIBILITY.  1. It shall be the duty of each public officer responsi-
 ble  for  the scheduling or siting of any public hearing to make reason-
 able efforts to ensure (A) that such hearings  are  held  in  facilities
 that  permit barrier-free physical access to the physically handicapped,
 as defined in subdivision five of section fifty of the public  buildings
 law; AND (B) THAT SERVICES OF A QUALIFIED INTERPRETER, IF AVAILABLE, ARE
 PROVIDED AT SUCH PUBLIC HEARINGS AT NO CHARGE TO PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF OR
 HARD  OF  HEARING UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE PUBLIC OFFICER RESPONSIBLE
 FOR THE SCHEDULING OR SITING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WITHIN  A  REASONABLE
 TIME  PRIOR  TO SUCH HEARING. IF INTERPRETER SERVICES ARE REQUESTED, THE
 PUBLIC OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHEDULING OR SITING  OF  THE  PUBLIC
 HEARING  SHALL ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF A QUALIFIED INTERPRETER, IF AVAIL-
 ABLE, TO INTERPRET THE PROCEEDING TO, AND THE TESTIMONY OF SUCH  PERSONS
 WHO  ARE  DEAF  OR  HARD OF HEARING; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT SUCH ACTION
 DOES NOT IMPOSE AN UNDUE HARDSHIP ON THE PUBLIC BODY HOLDING SUCH  HEAR-
 ING.
   2. (A) SUCH PUBLIC OFFICERS SHALL HAVE THE POWER AND IT SHALL BE THEIR
 INDIVIDUAL DUTY TO EQUIP ANY ROOMS USED FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS WHICH ACCOM-
 MODATE  MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED PERSONS WITH AN ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM
 FOR USE BY THE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT  SUCH
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03709-02-1

co-Sponsors

2021-S3430A - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Finance
Law Section:
Public Officers Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §§74-a & 103, Pub Off L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2017-2018: S8129
2019-2020: S2774

2021-S3430A - Summary

Requires public officers and public bodies to make proactive efforts to provide qualified interpreters at no charge for the hearing impaired at public meetings and hearings upon written request to the public officer responsible for the siting of such hearing; requires installation and use of assistive listening devices.

2021-S3430A - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3430A - Bill Text download pdf 

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  3430--A
     Cal. No. 395
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. COMRIE, GIANARIS -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Ethics and Inter-
   nal Governance -- 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 public officers law, in relation to the  accessibil-
   ity of public hearings and meetings
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 74-a of the public officers law, as added by  chap-
 ter 368 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
   § 74-a. Duty of public officers regarding [the physically handicapped]
 ACCESSIBILITY.  1. It shall be the duty of each public officer responsi-
 ble  for the scheduling or siting of any public hearing to make [reason-
 able] PROACTIVE efforts to ensure (A) that such  hearings  are  held  in
 facilities  that  permit  barrier-free physical access to the physically
 handicapped, as defined in subdivision five  of  section  fifty  of  the
 public  buildings  law; AND (B) THAT SERVICES OF A QUALIFIED INTERPRETER
 ARE PROVIDED AT SUCH PUBLIC HEARINGS AT NO CHARGE  TO  PERSONS  WHO  ARE
 DEAF  OR  HARD  OF  HEARING  UPON  WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE PUBLIC OFFICER
 RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHEDULING OR SITING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WITHIN  A
 REASONABLE  TIME  PRIOR  TO  SUCH  HEARING.  IF INTERPRETER SERVICES ARE
 REQUESTED, THE PUBLIC OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHEDULING  OR  SITING
 OF  THE  PUBLIC  HEARING SHALL ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF A QUALIFIED INTER-
 PRETER, IF AVAILABLE, TO INTERPRET THE PROCEEDING TO, AND THE  TESTIMONY
 OF SUCH PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.
   2. (A) SUCH PUBLIC OFFICERS SHALL HAVE THE POWER AND IT SHALL BE THEIR
 INDIVIDUAL DUTY TO EQUIP ANY ROOMS USED FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS WHICH ACCOM-
 MODATE  MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED PERSONS WITH AN ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM
 FOR USE BY THE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

co-Sponsors

2021-S3430B (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Finance
Law Section:
Public Officers Law
Laws Affected:
Amd §§74-a & 103, Pub Off L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2017-2018: S8129
2019-2020: S2774

2021-S3430B (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires public officers and public bodies to make proactive efforts to provide qualified interpreters at no charge for the hearing impaired at public meetings and hearings upon written request to the public officer responsible for the siting of such hearing; requires installation and use of assistive listening devices.

2021-S3430B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S3430B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  3430--B
     Cal. No. 395
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sens. COMRIE, GIANARIS -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Ethics and Inter-
   nal Governance -- 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
   --  again  amended  and  ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the
   order of third reading
 
 AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to the  accessibil-
   ity of public hearings and meetings
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 74-a of the public officers law, as added by  chap-
 ter 368 of the laws of 1977, is amended to read as follows:
   § 74-a. Duty of public officers regarding [the physically handicapped]
 ACCESSIBILITY.  1. It shall be the duty of each public officer responsi-
 ble  for the scheduling or siting of any public hearing to make [reason-
 able] PROACTIVE efforts to ensure (A) that such  hearings  are  held  in
 facilities  that  permit  barrier-free physical access to the physically
 handicapped, as defined in subdivision five  of  section  fifty  of  the
 public  buildings  law; AND (B) THAT SERVICES OF A QUALIFIED INTERPRETER
 ARE PROVIDED AT SUCH PUBLIC HEARINGS AT NO CHARGE  TO  PERSONS  WHO  ARE
 DEAF  OR  HARD  OF  HEARING  UPON  WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE PUBLIC OFFICER
 RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHEDULING OR SITING OF THE PUBLIC HEARING WITHIN  A
 REASONABLE  TIME  PRIOR  TO  SUCH  HEARING.  IF INTERPRETER SERVICES ARE
 REQUESTED, THE PUBLIC OFFICER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SCHEDULING  OR  SITING
 OF  THE  PUBLIC  HEARING SHALL ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF A QUALIFIED INTER-
 PRETER, TO INTERPRET THE  PROCEEDING  TO,  AND  THE  TESTIMONY  OF  SUCH
 PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.
   2. (A) SUCH PUBLIC OFFICERS SHALL HAVE THE POWER AND IT SHALL BE THEIR
 INDIVIDUAL DUTY TO EQUIP ANY ROOMS USED FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS WHICH ACCOM-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

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