Loading chat...
NY A00387
Bill
Status
12/10/2025
Primary Sponsor
Nily Rozic
Click for details
AI Summary
-
Requires every hospital to develop a language assistance program ensuring meaningful access to services for patients needing language assistance
-
Mandates designation of a language assistance coordinator to oversee services and report to hospital administration
-
Requires interpreters to be available within 20 minutes for inpatient/outpatient settings and within 10 minutes for emergency services, with time-limited exceptions possible for rural hospitals
-
Prohibits family members, friends, or non-hospital personnel from serving as interpreters unless the patient agrees, free hospital interpreter services have been offered and refused, and age/competency/confidentiality concerns are addressed (interpreters generally must be 16 or older)
-
Requires annual needs assessments using census and other demographic data to identify limited English-speaking groups comprising more than 1% of the hospital service area, with translated forms and instructions available for those languages
Legislative Description
Requires general hospitals to provide language assistance services; requires general hospitals to develop a language assistance program to ensure meaningful access to the general hospital's services and reasonable accommodation for all patients who require language assistance.
Last Action
signed chap.614
12/10/2025