The law is always changing. These articles will help you stay up to date on the latest developments.
Federal law is made by Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Creating new laws, or amending existing ones, requires drafting a bill. The idea for a bill may come from a member of Congress, an interest group, or citizens who recommend a law to their elected representatives. The bill is then sent to the committee that specializes in that type of legislation.
State law includes the Constitution, laws passed by the legislature and codified in the Consolidated Laws, and decisions by courts that interpret those laws. In addition, the City of New York has its own laws, which are governed by the Charter and Administrative Code.
The language access law, enacted in April 2022 and codified in June 2022, mandates that all State agencies provide interpretation services to individuals who do not speak English or have limited English proficiency when they interact with the agency. In addition, the law requires that vital agency documents be translated into the top 12 languages spoken by individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP).