Ensures that the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities provide materials to individuals in English and the top six languages spoken in the state.
Summary
This bill would require the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) and the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) to provide all materials, including documents, instructions, applications, and forms, in English and in the six most common non-English languages spoken by individuals with limited English proficiency in New York, based on U.S. Census data. The requirement applies broadly to agency materials and is intended to improve language access for people seeking or receiving services from these agencies.
The bill amends two sections of the Mental Hygiene Law: section 7.07 for OMH and section 13.07 for OPWDD. It takes effect immediately upon enactment. In practical terms, it would expand the agencies’ obligations to translate and distribute core public-facing materials, likely affecting administrative processes, outreach, and service access for non-English-speaking residents and their families.
Impact
The bill would change state law by adding explicit language-access duties to the Mental Hygiene Law for OMH and OPWDD. These agencies would need to ensure that their forms, applications, instructions, and related materials are available in English and the six most common non-English languages used by limited-English-proficient individuals in New York, as determined by census data. This could require translation, document maintenance, and ongoing updates as language demographics change, and it would directly affect agency operations and the people who rely on mental health and developmental disability services.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is provided, so there is no recorded debate or roll-call sentiment to assess. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a language-access and service-equity bill, suggesting a generally supportive policy rationale centered on accessibility for immigrant and limited-English-proficient communities.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided materials. Potential areas of debate, if raised, would likely involve the administrative and fiscal burden of translating and maintaining materials in multiple languages, the scope of which documents must be translated, and how the six required languages would be selected and updated over time. Supporters would likely emphasize improved access, fairness, and compliance with language-access needs for vulnerable populations.
Ensures that the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities provide materials to individuals in English and the top six languages spoken in the state.
Ensures that the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities provide materials to individuals in English and the top six languages spoken in the state.
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 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 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.
Relates to training police officers on how to respond to situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.
Expands the use of body scanners to facilities operated by the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities; establishes alternative methods of screening.
Expands the use of body scanners to facilities operated by the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities; establishes alternative methods of screening.
Establishes mandatory supplemental therapeutic services reimbursement for certain individuals receiving services through the office for people with developmental disabilities.