2020 New York Laws
JUD - Judiciary
Article 12 - Interpreters
391 - Limited English Proficient Litigants' Data.

§ 391. Limited English proficient litigants' data. 1. For the purposes
of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
  (a)  "primary  language" means the dominant language a litigant speaks
in everyday situations, including but not limited to their  home,  work,
school, and community environments;
  (b) "limited English proficient (LEP) litigant" means a participant in
a  legal  proceeding,  whose  limited ability to speak or understand the
English language, has created a communications barrier to  understanding
his  or  her  legal  rights or impairs his or her ability to participate
fully in court programs or services; and
  (c) "language assistance services" means  oral  and  written  services
needed  to  assist  LEP  litigants to communicate effectively with court
personnel and to provide LEP litigants with meaningful access to, and an
equal opportunity to participate fully in, court programs  or  services,
so  that  LEP  litigants  are  placed  in the same position as similarly
situated persons for whom there is no such barrier.
  2. The office of court administration shall collect and maintain  data
on  all  limited  English proficient litigants in all courts within this
state; provided, however, that such data shall  not  be  collected  from
those  courts  designated  as  town or village courts. At a minimum, the
office of court administration shall collect and maintain  data  on  the
following:
  (a)  the  number  of  limited  English  proficient  litigants  who are
litigants in courts  within  this  state,  disaggregated  by  court  and
county, and the primary language of such litigants;
  (b)  the  number  of such limited English proficient litigants served,
disaggregated by court and  county,  the  type  of  language  assistance
services provided and the primary language of the litigant served; and
  (c)  the  number  of  interpreter  personnel  employed  by the courts,
disaggregated by  court  and  county  and  the  language  translated  or
interpreted by such personnel.
  3.  The office of court administration shall make the data required by
this section publicly available on its website, provided, however,  that
such  data shall not include identifying information and nothing in this
section shall be construed to permit the office of court  administration
to use, disseminate, or publish any identifying information, including a
litigant's  name,  date of birth, social security number, docket number,
or other unique identifier.