BILL NUMBER:S960

TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring state
agencies to provide certain information in non-English languages

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To ensure the availability of information on any website maintained by
an entity of the state, for people of this state who are precluded
from utilizing the website because of a language barrier.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

This bill stipulates that any website maintained by an entity of the
state which provides materials explaining the services of the entity
and which is translated into a non-English language spoken by a
substantial number of the public served by any such entity, shall
provide a link on its website to appropriate non-English information.

EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS HILL WOULD ALTER:

The executive law is amended by adding a new section 164-e.

JUSTIFICATION:
              

The Internet has been making a marked increase in the impact on the
people of this state. Many people refer to the websites of state
departments, divisions, commissions, agencies, and other entities of
the state, for information regarding services available. There is a
substantial number of people who live, work and pay taxes in this
state who are unable to effectively make use of these websites, either
because they do not speak or write English at all, or because their
primary language is other than English. As a result, a substantial
number of people are presently being denied information on services
that would otherwise be available.

Enactment of this bill will ensure that any information on a website
maintained by an entity of the state is available for any persons of
this state to whom English is not a primary language.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2001/02 - A.9398 - Referred to Governmental Operations;
2003/04 - A.3842 - Referred to Governmental Operations;
2005/06 - A.4309 - Advanced to Third Reading Cal. 250;
2007/08 - A.3960 - Advanced to Third Reading Cal. 663
2009/10 - S.6883 - Ordered to Third Reading Cal. 259
2011-12 - S.2746 - Referred to Finance
2013-14 - S.916 - Referred to Finance

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Unknown.

EFFECTIVE DATE:


This act shall take effect 90 days after it shall have become a law.