Requires public officers and public bodies to make reasonable efforts to provide qualified interpreters at no charge for the hearing impaired at public meetings and hearings upon written request to the public officer responsible for the siting of such hearing; also requires installation and use of assistive listening devices.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3924
SPONSOR: Dickens TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to the accessibil-
ity of public hearings and meetings
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide interpreters and assisted listening devices for deaf and
hearing impaired individuals at public hearings and meetings.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Amends section 74-a of the Public Officers Law requiring the services of
interpreters for the deaf or hard of hearing be made available upon
request of a deaf or hard of hearing individual at public hearings, as
well as requiring certain hearing rooms to be equipped with assisted
listening devices. The bill also amends section 103 of the Public Offi-
cers Law to ensure the provision of interpreters at meetings conducted
by public bodies, as well as requiring certain hearing rooms to be
equipped with assisted listening devices.Provisions are included for the
public body to not have to provide the services of an interpreter or
assisted listening devices if such actions pose an undue hardship on the
public body.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
The bill changes the term "hearing impaired" to "deaf of hard of hear-
ing.It
JUSTIFICATION:
The services of interpreters, and assisted listening devices, for indi-
viduals who are deaf or hearing impaired are essential if such persons
are to fully participate in public hearings and meetings conducted by
governmental bodies. Similar provisions exist for administrative rule
making proceedings. Individuals who are deaf or hearing impaired who
wish to attend such should be afforded every opportunity possible to
fully engage with public bodies by participating at public hearings.
Provisions are included in this bill allowing the public body to not
have to engage in the services of a qualified interpreter, or provide
assisted listening devices if doing so presents an undue hardship.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-2020: A3385A - Passed Assembly
2018: A8158 - Passed Assembly
2017: A8158: referred to governmental operations
2015 -2016: A.1669A - Passed Assembly
2013 -2014: A.2826 - Passed Assembly
2011 - 2012:A.1932- Passed Assembly
2009 - 2010:A.2102- Passed Assembly
2009:A.637A- Passed Assembly
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
Minor costs associated with the hiring of interpreters on a meeting per
meeting basis, and with equipping hearing rooms with assisted listening
devices.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect January 1, 2022.
