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.
Summary
S05807 would amend New York’s social services law to require that any companion website or mobile application tied to an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system and accessible to benefit recipients be available in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state. The language list would be determined using the most recent American Community Survey data published by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The bill also requires that documents made available for viewing on those EBT-related websites or apps be translatable into those same twelve languages. In practical terms, the measure is aimed at improving access to public benefits technology for recipients who may have limited English proficiency, including users of SNAP or other assistance programs that rely on EBT platforms.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would create a new requirement under section 21-a of the social services law for state EBT companion websites and mobile applications to provide multilingual access and document translation. It would affect the agencies or vendors that operate or maintain EBT-related digital services, and it could require updates to software, user interfaces, and translated content to comply with the language mandate. The bill takes effect 30 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for any necessary implementing regulations.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or vote data, so there is no documented debate or recorded opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a consumer-access and language-access improvement for benefit recipients, suggesting a generally supportive policy rationale centered on equity and usability.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of debate, if the bill were discussed, would likely involve implementation costs, the administrative burden of maintaining translations across digital platforms, and how the state would ensure accuracy and timely updates for the twelve required languages. Another possible issue is whether the mandate should apply to all EBT-related documents and interfaces or only to core recipient-facing functions.
Same As
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.
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.
Requires the office of temporary and disability assistance to make available skimming warning signs in English and in the twelve languages most commonly spoken by limited English proficient individuals in the state; requires the department of social services to make available information regarding the state food stamp outreach program in English and in the twelve languages most commonly spoken by limited English proficient individuals in the state.
Requires certain documents and forms to be provided in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited English proficient immigrants of five years or less according to the American community survey, as published by the United States census bureau.
Requires certain documents and forms to be provided in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited English proficient immigrants of five years or less according to the American community survey, as published by the United States census bureau.
Requires certain documents and forms to be provided in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited English proficient immigrants of five years or less according to the American community survey, as published by the United States census bureau.
Requires certain documents and forms to be provided in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited English proficient immigrants of five years or less according to the American community survey, as published by the United States census bureau.
Relates to the powers of the head of the office of mental health and the head of the office for people with developmental disabilities to promulgate rules regarding communications needs of non-English speakers seeking or receiving services; includes the provision of language services and documents in English and the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by individuals in New York State based on United States census data.
Relates to the powers of the head of the office of mental health and the head of the office for people with developmental disabilities to promulgate rules regarding communications needs of non-English speakers seeking or receiving services; includes the provision of language services and documents in English and the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by individuals in New York State based on United States census data.
Requires the commissioner of public health to post certain notices regarding food allergy awareness in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state.
Requires the commissioner of public health to post certain notices regarding food allergy awareness in the twelve most common non-English languages spoken by limited-English proficient individuals in the state.