Int. No. 295

By Council Members Ung, Hanif, Stevens, Velázquez, Williams, Ayala, Restler, Abreu, Nurse and Hudson

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring reporting by the department of health and mental hygiene on language services for post-visit instructions and care

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new chapter 21 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 21

LANGUAGE SERVICES REPORTING LAW

§ 17-2101 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

City agency. The term "city agency" means a city, county, borough, administration, department, division, bureau, board or commission, or a corporation, institution or agency of government, the expenses of which are paid in whole or in part from the city treasury.

Data. The term "data" means final versions of statistical or factual information in alphanumeric form that can be digitally transmitted or processed.

Health care provider. The term “health care provider" means an individual, partnership, corporation or other association that operates a health care facility for treatment of patients.

In-person interpreter. The term “in-person interpreter” means a person who provides live interactive translation, sign language, or reading services on-site.

Miscellaneous accommodation. The term “miscellaneous accommodation" means any service or combination of services provided other than an in-person interpretation or a request for a form to be translated.  

 § 17-2102 Annual report. a. By no later than October 31 of each year, the commissioner shall compile data from all health care providers administered by city agencies and submit to the speaker of the council and post to the department's website an annual report, based on data from the preceding fiscal year, on the use and availability of in-person interpreters, health care form translations, and accommodations for patients with varying degrees of literacy for post-visit instructions and care.

b. The data in the report required by subdivision a shall be disaggregated by health care provider, race, ethnicity, gender, year of birth, and native language and shall show the following:

                         1. The number of in-person interpreter requests for post-visit instructions and care;

2. The number of in-person interpreter requests for post-visit instructions and care fulfilled;

3. The number of health care form translations requests for post-visit instructions and care;

4. The number of health care form translations requests for post-visit instructions and care fulfilled;

5. The number of miscellaneous accommodation requests for post-visit instructions and care;

6. The number of miscellaneous accommodation requests for post-visit instructions and care fulfilled; and

7. The citywide total number of in-person interpreters, health care form translations, and accommodations for patients with varying degrees of literacy for post-visit instructions and care for all health care providers that fall under the authority of city agencies. 

§ 2. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law and expires and is deemed repealed 2 years after such date.

Session 12

AV

LS 8682

4/8/22

Session 11

IS

LS #9286

Int. 1772