Relates to providing language access services to individuals relating to the tax abatement program for rent-controlled and rent-regulated property occupied by senior citizens or persons with disabilities.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10570
SPONSOR: Pichardo TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation
to providing language access services to individuals relating to the tax
abatement program for rent-controlled and rent-regulated property occu-
pied by senior citizens or persons with disabilities
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require municipalities that have the senior citizen rent
increase exemption (SCRIE) and disabled rent increase exemption (DRIE)
program to ensure that individuals who have limited English proficiency
or otherwise require communication assistance would have the same oppor-
tunity to participate in the SCRIE/DRIE program as other individuals.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1. This bill would require municipalities that offer the
SCRIE/DRIE program to develop and implement a plan to make sure that
individuals who have limited English proficiency or otherwise require
communication assistance have adequate access to the program. This plan
would include:
*Translation of necessary documents into the six most common non-English
languages spoken in the municipality;
*Provision of interpretive services upon request; and
*Provision of assistive services upon, request or demonstrated need to
individuals who require such assistance due to partial or total deaf-
ness, blindness, speech impediment, or cognitive impairment.
Section 2. Effective Date
JUSTIFICATION:
New York City contains a vibrant array of cultures and ethnicities
across the boroughs. All of these communities have senior citizens on
fixed incomes that would benefit from participation in the SCRIE
program. Many of these individuals speak languages other than English.
It is unacceptable for seniors in need to be denied access to such an
important program because they cannot understand the forms or cannot
readily speak with agency staff.
While some strides have been made to correct this disparity, with all of
the services and technology available, the municipalities-can do more.
Any senior who is eligible, regardless of their language or assistance
needs, should have the opportunity to participate in the SCRIE program.
It is vital that municipalities make this kind of inclusiveness a prior-
ity.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2013-2014: A 8978 - Referred to Aging/ Reported to Ways and Means/
Reported/ Passed Assembly/ Passed Senate/ Delivered to Governor! Vetoed
2011-2012: A 9213 - Referred to Real Property Taxation/ Referred to
Aging/ Reported to Ways and Means/ Reported! Passed Assembly
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10570
IN ASSEMBLY
May 7, 2018
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PICHARDO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Aging
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to providing
language access services to individuals relating to the tax abatement
program for rent-controlled and rent-regulated property occupied by
senior citizens or persons with disabilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the real property tax law
2 is amended by adding a new paragraph j to read as follows:
3 j. the entity responsible for the administration of the tax abatement
4 program shall develop and implement a plan to ensure adequate access to
5 information by individuals who have limited English proficiency or
6 otherwise require communication assistance. Such entity shall:
7 (1) translate necessary documents, including but not limited to, forms
8 and instructions provided to or completed by the program beneficiaries
9 or participants, into the six most common non-English languages spoken
10 by individuals with limited-English proficiency in the municipality that
11 offers this program pursuant to subdivision two of this section;
12 (2) offer, upon request, interpretation services between the entity
13 administering the program and an individual in his or her primary
14 language with respect to the provision of services or benefits; and
15 (3) offer, upon request or demonstrated need, services to an individ-
16 ual who requires additional assistance due to partial or total deafness,
17 blindness, speech impediment, or cognitive impairment.
18 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
19 the amendments to subdivision 3 of section 467-b of the real property
20 tax law made by section one of this act shall not affect the expiration
21 and reversion of such section and shall be deemed to expire therewith.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09016-05-8
