Ensures language assistance services by state agencies and requires state agencies to maintain records and to submit an annual report on language services

Latest action Jan 7, 2026

Ensures language assistance services by state agencies; requires state agencies to maintain records of the primary language spoken by any individual seeking such assistance; requires state agency to submit an annual report on language services.

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Where it stands

Out of committee and scheduled for a vote by the full chamber.

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

New York State Senate

Same as A8238, the matching bill in the Assembly.

Amends the Civil Service Law.

Committee

Civil Service And Pensions · New York State Senate

Also referred to Governmental Operations · New York State Assembly.

Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

This legislation would ensure that limited English-proficient New York- ers have access to services provided by state agencies through the provision of interpreters and translated material.

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

Recorded votes

Vote: Committee vote · Civil Service And Pensions
Senate Civil Service And PensionsMay 20, 2025Result: passed
(6) (1) (0) (0)

The sponsor's argument

Why Luis R. Sepúlveda says this is needed

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides that no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal assistance. The United States Department of Justice has stated that failure to provide language assistance to limited English-speaking individuals in federally funded, state supervised or administered programs amounts to a violation of Title VI by discriminating against such individuals based upon their national origin. This legislation would ensure that New York State and county governments are in compliance with Title VI by requiring the provision of translated materials and interpreters to limited English speaking persons seeking assistance and services. This bill tries to address the need for translation services at state and county offices. Many limited English-proficient New Yorkers fail to receive adequate services due to failure to comply with Title VI regu- lations.

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

Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
May 20, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
May 5, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS
NY Assembly
Feb 12, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
NY Senate

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.
Source: From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Nov 3, 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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