"The next bill before me is Introductory Number 38-A, sponsored by Speaker Miller, Council Members Liu, Brewer, DeBlasio, Barron, Comrie, Dilan, Martinez, Monserrate, Moskowtiz, Perkins, Quinn, Reyna, Rivera, Serrano, Yassky, Reed, Sanders, Jr., Gennaro, Foster, Koppell, Clarke, Recchia, Jr., Baez, Nelson, Seabrook, Sears, Lopez, Felder, Espada, Jr., Katz, Stewart, Gonzalez, Jackson, James, Jennings, Addabbo, Jr., Avella, McMahon, Boyland, Vann, Fidler, Gerson, Weprin, Gioia and the Public Advocate Ms.Gotbaum.

"Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that no person shall "on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."  According to the 2000 census, nearly one-half of all New Yorkers speak a language other than English at home.  Limited English proficient New Yorkers have at times encountered obstacles to accessing essential benefits and services for which they are eligible.

"Intro. 38-A seeks to increase the access of individuals who have limited English-speaking abilities to these critical services.  The bill's provisions require the Human Resources Administration (HRA), Administration for Children's Services (ACS), Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) and Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to inform individuals of available language services.  In addition, HRA and certain categories of its contractors will provide language assistance through a variety of mechanisms to help clients access services.  HRA will also provide oral and written translation services, including translating certain documents into six languages -- Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Korean, Russian and Spanish.

"The legislation, while imposing some additional responsibilities on the City agencies, allows for a level of flexibility in how the provisions are carried out in that either agency staff or contracted service providers, such as community-based organizations, may be utilized to assist the agencies in providing language assistance services.  Furthermore, it allows for individuals seeking services from the agencies to use volunteers, such as family or friends, to assist in providing language assistance services.  All of the covered agencies will also perform ongoing information gathering, record keeping and reporting in regards to the language assistance services they provide.  The various provisions of the bill will be phased in over the course of five years with full compliance from all agencies in 2009.

"HRA, ACS, DHS and DOHMH have long been dedicated to providing numerous human services for their clients, and have already made great strides in the area of language access services.  With the enactment of this law, these City agencies will continue to provide these services, while striving to improve their services to meet the needs of limited English proficient individuals who seek them.

"I would like to thank my Special Advisor, Ester Fuchs, and Commissioners Eggleston, Bell, Gibbs and Frieden for their dedication and hard work in providing critical services to the public.  I also want to mention that Commissioner Sayu Bhojwani of the Office of Immigrant Affairs will work with City agencies to ensure effective implementation of Intro 38."