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…

Official titleShow

The heading above is this same sentence with its legal opening removed. No words were added, changed or reordered.

Latest action May 5, 2026

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.

Not chosen yet

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

New York State Senate

Same as A11023, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Mental Hygiene Law.

Committee

Mental Health · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Mental Health · New York State Senate.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

The purpose of this bill is to increase access to services and support for non-English speaking individuals.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Cosponsors

Alicia Hyndman, Andrew Hevesi and 1 more on Agora

Democratic3

See the full list on nysenate.gov

The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

The OMH and the OPWDD provide valuable services to individuals with a mental health diagnosis or with a developmental disability. These services were implemented with the intention of serving all New Yorkers. However, without providing materials in the twelve most common non-En- glis languages in the state, there will be barriers to treatment and supports to those who are not proficient in the English language. This bill would increase access to services and supports provided by the OMB and OPWDD by requiring the commissioner of the office of mental health and the office for people with developmental disabilities to provide language assistance services for non-English individuals, including but not limited to documents, forms, and materials being made available in the twelve most common non-English languages in the state of New York, as determined by United States census data.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Full history

May 5, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
NY Senate
May 4, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO SENATE
NY Assembly
May 4, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
May 4, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
NY Senate
Apr 30, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading CAL.441
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING CAL.441
NY Assembly

Show full history (2 earlier events)

Apr 28, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED
NY Assembly
Apr 22, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO MENTAL HEALTH
NY Assembly

About this record

Summary: The summary comes from NY Open Legislation, the New York State Senate's public record. For more, see How we handle summaries.
Cosponsors: The list shows the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Party colors: Parties are shown in the same neutral colors.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 21, 2026. About our data

Read the record

Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab) The official record on nysenate.gov.

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