Bill Text: NJ A1911 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires that certain relocation notices be bilingual in municipalities where at least one-third of the population are likely to speak a common non-English native language.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee [A1911 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A1911-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ANGEL FUENTES
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
SYNOPSIS
Requires that certain relocation notices be bilingual in municipalities where at least one-third of the population are likely to speak a common non-English native language.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning translation of certain notices in certain municipalities and supplementing P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Bilingual relocation notice" means a residential relocation notice printed in English and in the non-English native language typically spoken by an ethnic or cultural group comprising at least one-third of the population of a municipality according to the last decennial census;
"Relocation notice" means any notice served or delivered to a resident or to a resident's household by a municipality, county, redevelopment agency, or housing authority pursuant to its relocation powers under subsection i. of P.L.1992, c.79, s.22 (C.40A:12A-22).
b. In every municipality where at least one-third of the total population are of a common ethnic or cultural background according to the last decennial census, and are likely to speak a common non-English native language with higher proficiency than English, any relocation notice that is served or delivered by a municipality, county, redevelopment agency, or housing authority pursuant to its relocation powers under subsection i. of P.L.1992, c.79, s.22 (C.40A:12A-22), shall be prepared as a bilingual relocation notice so that the full contents of each notice shall be printed in both English and in the native language typical of each ethnic or cultural group comprising at least one-third of the total population of the municipality.
c. Every relocation notice required to be printed as a bilingual relocation notice pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall be translated by an entity qualified to produce correct and accurate translations in the given language, and shall be thoroughly evaluated by a second entity qualified to ensure that the translated text properly conveys the legal contents and other important information found in the English version of the notice.
d. (1) The Department of Community Affairs, through the Center for Hispanic Policy Research and Development and other relevant divisions, shall obtain and evaluate census and other relevant data in order to determine the municipalities wherein the bilingual relocation notice requirements apply. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall annually notify each affected municipality.
(2) Within 120 days of the effective date of this act, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), the Commissioner of Community Affairs shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the provisions of P.L. c, (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would require that certain legal notices be printed in a bilingual fashion in municipalities where at least one-third of the total population is of a common ethnic or cultural background, likely speaking a language other than English as a native language, according to the last decennial census. Under the bill, only relocation notices issued by a municipality, county, redevelopment agency, or housing authority under the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et seq.) would be required to be translated.
Based on census 2000 data, relocation notices issued in at least 18 municipalities in the State would be subject to the translation requirement established by this bill, since Hispanics constitute one-third or more of the total municipal population. These municipalities are Union City, West New York, Perth Amboy, Passaic, Dover, North Bergen, Guttenberg, Victory Gardens, Paterson, Elizabeth, East Newark, Weehawken, New Brunswick, Camden, Prospect Park, Fairview, Harrison, and Bound Brook.
This bill requires that the notices be translated and reviewed by a qualified entity to ensure accuracy, and that the Department of Community Affairs evaluate census and other relevant data to determine municipalities in which relocation notices have to be in compliance with this bill. The bill further authorized the Commissioner of Community Affairs to promulgate necessary rules and regulations.
