NJ Bill Would Make State Agencies Translate Forms Into 15 Languages

NEW JERSEY — A proposed New Jersey law that would require government forms and notices to be translated from English into the state’s “15 most common languages” has taken another leap forward.

On Monday, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee voted 8-4 to advance S-2459, setting the bill up for a full Senate vote. A companion bill, A-3837, has been introduced in the New Jersey Assembly.

The proposed law would roll out in stages over three years, according to Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (District 29), who represents Newark, East Newark and Harrison:

“The bill would require state agencies to translate forms, privacy protections, and notices of rights in the top five most used languages by the end of the first year, then add an additional five languages by the end of the second year and add the five remaining languages in the third year after implementation.”

New Jersey is home to nearly 2 million immigrants and refugees – about 22.2 percent of the its entire population, according to the state health department, which cites U.S. Census data. About 5.2 percent of New Jersey residents have “limited English proficiency.”

The 15 languages most commonly used by non-English speakers in New Jersey are Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, Portuguese, Gujarati, Arabic, Polish, Haitian, Russian, Hindi, Tagalog, Italian, Vietnamese, Urdu, and French, NJ.com previously reported.

If the legislation crosses the finish line, New Jersey would join California, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, New York and 40 other jurisdictions that have established similar language access laws, Ruiz noted.

“New Jersey is the 4th most diverse state in the nation and what that means is that our state needs to be prepared to provide services outside of English,” said Ruiz, who entered the history books two years ago as the highest-ranking Latina in the history of the New Jersey Legislature.

“When people are in need, and especially in crisis, they should be able to connect to the resources available to them,” said Ruiz, a Democratic Party member.

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The bill’s passage out of the Budget and Appropriations Committee was significant, as its cost may “likely be expensive.” It would tap into federal coronavirus aid issued under the American Rescue Plan Act to help cover the price tag.

Monday’s vote didn’t come without opposition. Four senators on the committee – all Republicans – voted against moving the bill forward: Michael Testa (District 1), Declan O’Scanlon (District 13), Douglas Steinhardt (District 23) and Steven Oroho (District 24).

Immigration advocates cheered the news, however.

“New Jersey has made huge strides in expanding state programming that uplifts and empowers our diverse communities,” aid Kat Phan, a policy associate with the New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice New Jersey.

“But language access remains out of reach,” Phan added. “With [Monday’s] committee vote, New Jersey is one step closer to bridging that divide.”

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