S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  7132--A
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 23, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. REYES -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Governmental Operations  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,
   ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
 
 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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD08994-02-1
              

 A. 7132--A                          2
 
 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  AFTER  APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR, 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 April 1, 2023. Effective  immediately,
 the  addition,  amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
 sary for the implementation of  this  act  on  its  effective  date  are
 authorized  to  be  made  and  completed by the secretary of state on or
 before such effective date.