S 4525 NY Passed One Chamber
Requires accurate interpretation of statements made by deponents with limited English proficiency in accusatory instruments and supporting depositions
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Summary
This bill requires that when an accusatory instrument or supporting deposition in a criminal case contains statements from a deponent with limited English proficiency, it must be accompanied by documentation ensuring accurate interpretation. The bill establishes two pathways for compliance: either a statement and verification in the deponent's primary language along with an English translation and an interpreter's affidavit confirming accuracy, or an English translation of the deponent's statement with an interpreter's affidavit confirming the translation is accurate and that the deponent confirmed the accuracy of the allegations as communicated to them. In both pathways, the interpreter must attest to their qualifications and confirm that they accurately translated all statements between English and the deponent's primary language. The bill takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Official abstract
Provides that an accusatory instrument or supporting deposition consisting of factual allegations by a deponent with limited English proficiency is not sufficient unless accompanied by a sworn statement from an interpreter affirming the accuracy of the English interpretation.
Sponsor (1)
- Jamaal Bailey Democratic · primary
Action history (13)
- Feb 6, 2025 REFERRED TO CODES · upper
- Jun 10, 2025 COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES · upper
- Jun 10, 2025 ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1741 · upper
- Jun 10, 2025 PASSED SENATE · upper
- Jun 10, 2025 DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY · upper
- Jun 10, 2025 REFERRED TO CODES · lower
- Jan 7, 2026 DIED IN ASSEMBLY · lower
- Jan 7, 2026 RETURNED TO SENATE · lower
- Jan 7, 2026 REFERRED TO CODES · upper
- Mar 24, 2026 1ST REPORT CAL.614 · upper
- Mar 25, 2026 2ND REPORT CAL. · upper
- Mar 26, 2026 ADVANCED TO THIRD READING · upper
- May 4, 2026 SUBSTITUTED BY A1422 · upper
Text versions (2)
Full text
Full text imported from assembly.state.ny.us
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Bill No.: Summary Actions Committee Votes Floor Votes Memo Text LFIN Chamber Video/Transcript S04525 Summary: BILL NO S04525   SAME AS SAME AS A01422
  SPONSOR BAILEY   COSPNSR   MLTSPNSR   Amd §100.40, CP L   Provides that an accusatory instrument or supporting deposition consisting of factual allegations by a deponent with limited English proficiency is not sufficient unless accompanied by a sworn statement from an interpreter affirming the accuracy of the English interpretation.
Go to top S04525 Text:
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________
4525
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2025 ___________
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to requiring accurate interpretation of statements made by deponents with limited English proficiency in accusatory instruments and supporting deposi- tions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 100.40 of the criminal procedure law is amended by 2 adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows: 3 5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, where the 4 factual allegations of an accusatory instrument and/or any supporting 5 deposition filed in connection with such instrument consist of a state- 6 ment made by a deponent to a public servant or other person in a 7 language other than English, such instrument shall not be sufficient 8 unless it is accompanied by: 9 (a) (i) A statement of the factual allegations written in the 10 deponent's primary language and a signed verification under penalty of 11 perjury in the deponent's primary language; (ii) an English-language 12 translation of the deponent's statement and of the verification written 13 by an interpreter; and (iii) an affidavit by the interpreter stating the 14 interpreter's qualifications and affirming the accuracy of such trans- 15 lation; or 16 (b) (i) A written English-language translation of the deponent's oral 17 or written statement of the factual allegations, drafted by an inter- 18 preter; and (ii) an affidavit from the interpreter: (A) stating the 19 interpreter's qualifications; (B) affirming that the interpreter accu- 20 rately translated such statement into English; (C) affirming that the 21 interpreter accurately communicated the content of the statement to the 22 deponent in the deponent's primary language; (D) affirming that the 23 deponent confirmed the accuracy of the allegations as communicated; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD03852-01-5
S. 4525 2
1 (E) affirming that the interpreter accurately translated the verifica- 2 tion statement to the witness in the witness's primary language. 3 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall 4 have become a law.
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