BILL NUMBER: S5280A
SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the real property tax law, in relation to providing
language access services to individuals relating to certain tax abate-
ment programs for senior citizens or persons with disabilities
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would require municipalities that have SCRIE, DRIE, SCHE, and
DHE programs to ensure that individuals who have limited English profi-
ciency or otherwise require communication assistance would have the same
opportunity to participate in the SCRIE/DRIE and SCHE/DHE programs as
other individuals.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. This 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 and 3. This would require municipalities that offer the
SCHE/DHE program to develop and implement a plan to make sure that indi-
viduals who have limited English proficiency or otherwise require commu-
nication assistance have adequate access to the program.
Section 4. Effective Date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York contains a vibrant array of cultures and ethnicities across the
state. All of these communities have senior citizens and people with
disabilities on fixed incomes that would benefit from participation in
the SCRIE, DRIE, SCHE, and DHE programs. Many of these individuals speak
languages other than English.
It is unacceptable for people 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 person who is eligible, regardless of their language or assistance
needs, should have the opportunity to participate in the these programs.
It is vital that municipalities make this kind of inclusiveness a prior-
ity.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.4349 of 2023-2024; Passed to Senate, Delivered to Assembly, Referred
to Aging;
S. 7407 of 222: Passed Senate, Referred to Aging;
S. 7407 of 2021: Referred to Aging;
A. 2350 of 2019-20: Referred to Aging;
S. 6033-A of 2017-18: Referred to Aging
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S5280: 467-b real property tax law, 467-b(3) real property tax law
S5280A: 467-b real property tax law, 467-b(3) real property tax law, 467 real property tax law, 467(5) real property tax law, 459-c real property tax law, 459-c(7) real property tax law