NY State Senate Bill 2025-S5807A

Senate Bill S5807A

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires any website or mobile application associated with an electronic benefit transfer system to be offered in the twelve most common non-English languages

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Social Services 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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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 07, 2025	print number 5807a
May 07, 2025	amend and recommit to social services
Mar 03, 2025	referred to social services

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2025-S5807 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2332
Current Committee:: Senate Social Services
Law Section:: Social Services Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §21-a, Soc Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S8917, A9660

2025-S5807 - Summary

Requires any website or mobile application associated with an electronic benefit transfer system to be offered in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state, based on data in the most recent American Community Survey published by the United States Census Bureau.

2025-S5807 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5807

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring any
website or mobile application associated with an electronic benefit
transfer system to be offered in the twelve most common non-English
languages

 
PURPOSE::

This bill would require websites and mobile applications for EBT systems
to be made available in the twelve most common non-English languages.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::

Section one of the bill adds new subdivisions 3(a) and 3(b) to § 21-a of
the social services law that establish that any website or mobile appli-
cations associated with an EBT system be made available in the twelve
most common non-English languages. This section also makes clear that
any website or mobile applications associated with an EBT system must

provide for the translation of any documents made available for viewing
in the twelve most common non-English languages.

Section two of the bill provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION::

In recent months, there has been an explosion in incidents in which
unsuspecting beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) have fallen victim to EBT fraud and theft schemes.  Just
recently, New York city councilmember Sandra Ung's office reported that
they had received over 1,900 cases of EBT fraud and theft cases from
August to December of 2024. Sadly, constituents who primarily spoke
Chinese made up a majority of the thousands of EBT fraud and theft cases
that were reported by her office.

While the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has
created a website and mobile app, EBTEdge, to allow benefit recipients
to cancel their EBT cards, lock their EBT cards, or unlock their EBT
cards when they suspect fraud or fraud has been reported, this applica-
tion is currently only offered in English and Spanish.  This language
barrier makes it difficult for these victims to use the available
systems to safeguard fraudulent activity effectively. By mandating that
EBT systems expand their language offerings to include the twelve most
common non-English languages, this legislation will ensure that these
beneficiaries have equal access to tools that protect their benefits.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::

S.8917A of 2023-2024: Passed Senate; Delivered to Assembly and Referred
to Social Services.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2025-S5807 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5807
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 3, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the social services law, in relation to requiring any
   website or mobile application associated with  an  electronic  benefit
   transfer  system  to  be offered in the twelve most common non-English
   languages
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Section  21-a  of  the  social services law is amended by
 adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
   3. (A) ANY COMPANION WEBSITE OR MOBILE APPLICATION ASSOCIATED WITH  AN
 ELECTRONIC  BENEFIT TRANSFER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
 THAT IS ACCESSIBLE BY BENEFIT RECIPIENTS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN  THE
 TWELVE MOST COMMON NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGES.
   (B)  ANY  COMPANION  WEBSITE  OR MOBILE APPLICATION ASSOCIATED WITH AN
 ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THIS  SECTION
 THAT  IS  ACCESSIBLE  BY BENEFIT RECIPIENTS SHALL PROVIDE FOR THE TRANS-
 LATION OF ANY DOCUMENTS MADE AVAILABLE FOR  VIEWING  ON  SUCH  COMPANION
 WEBSITE  OR  MOBILE  APPLICATION  IN  THE TWELVE MOST COMMON NON-ENGLISH
 LANGUAGES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth 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.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05621-03-5

2025-S5807A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A2332
Current Committee:: Senate Social Services
Law Section:: Social Services Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §21-a, Soc Serv L
Versions Introduced in 2023-2024 Legislative Session:: S8917, A9660

2025-S5807A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2025-S5807A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S5807A

SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the social services law, in relation to requiring any
website or mobile application associated with an electronic benefit
transfer system to be offered in the twelve most common non-English
languages

 
PURPOSE:

This bill would require websites and mobile applications for EBT systems
to be made available in the twelve most common non-English languages.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill adds new subdivisions 3(a) and 3(b) to § 21-a of
the social services law that establish that any website or mobile appli-
cations associated with an EBT system be made available in the twelve
most common non-English languages. This section also makes clear that
any website or mobile applications associated with an EBT system must

provide for the translation of any documents made available for viewing
in the twelve most common non-English languages.

Section two of the bill provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In recent months, there has been an explosion in incidents in which
unsuspecting beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program (SNAP) have fallen victim to EBT fraud and theft schemes.  Just
recently, New York city councilmember Sandra Ung's office reported that
they had received over 1,900 cases of EBT fraud and theft cases from
August to December of 2024. Sadly, constituents who primarily spoke
Chinese made up a majority of the thousands of EBT fraud and theft cases
that were reported by her office.

While the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has
created a website and mobile app, EBTEdge, to allow benefit recipients
to cancel their EBT cards, lock their EBT cards, or unlock their EBT
cards when they suspect fraud or fraud has been reported, this applica-
tion is currently only offered in English and Spanish.  This language
barrier makes it difficult for these victims to use the available
systems to safeguard fraudulent activity effectively. By mandating that
EBT systems expand their language offerings to include the twelve most
common non-English languages, this legislation will ensure that these
beneficiaries have equal access to tools that protect their benefits.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.8917A of 2023-2024: Passed Senate; Delivered to Assembly and Referred
to Social Services.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.

2025-S5807A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  5807--A
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               March 3, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Social Services -- commit-
   tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
   mitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the social services law, in relation  to  requiring  any
   website  or  mobile  application associated with an electronic benefit
   transfer system to be offered in the twelve  most  common  non-English
   languages
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 21-a of the  social  services  law  is  amended  by
 adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
   3.  (A) ANY COMPANION WEBSITE OR MOBILE APPLICATION ASSOCIATED WITH AN
 ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THIS  SECTION
 THAT  IS ACCESSIBLE BY BENEFIT RECIPIENTS SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE IN THE
 TWELVE MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH  LANGUAGES  SPOKEN  BY  LIMITED-ENGLISH
 PROFICIENT  INDIVIDUALS  IN  THE STATE, BASED ON DATA IN THE MOST RECENT
 AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY PUBLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU.
   (B) ANY COMPANION WEBSITE OR MOBILE  APPLICATION  ASSOCIATED  WITH  AN
 ELECTRONIC  BENEFIT TRANSFER SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION
 THAT IS ACCESSIBLE BY BENEFIT RECIPIENTS SHALL PROVIDE  FOR  THE  TRANS-
 LATION  OF  ANY  DOCUMENTS  MADE AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING ON SUCH COMPANION
 WEBSITE OR MOBILE APPLICATION IN  THE  TWELVE  MOST  COMMON  NON-ENGLISH
 LANGUAGES SPOKEN BY LIMITED-ENGLISH PROFICIENT INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE,
 BASED  ON DATA IN THE MOST RECENT AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY PUBLISHED BY
 THE UNITED STATES CENSUS BUREAU.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05621-06-5

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