S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  6897--A
     Cal. No. 255
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             December 11, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules  --  recommitted  to
   the  Committee  on Finance in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --
   reported favorably from  said  committee,  ordered  to  first  report,
   amended  on  first  report,  ordered  to  a  second report and ordered
   reprinted, retaining its place in the order of second report
 
 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14223-04-0

 S. 6897--A                          2
 
   (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.
   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.