Georgia Senate - 1995/1996 Sessions

SB 519 - English - designate official language

Page Numbers - 1/ 2

Code Sections - 50-3-100

1. Crotts  17th           2. Balfour  9th            3. Langford  29th
4. Dean  31st


Senate Comm: S Judy     /         House Comm: SPCA       /                                          
Senate Vote: Yeas 45    Nays 10                                                                     
           ---------------------------------------------                                            
              Senate          Action          House                                                 
           ---------------------------------------------                                            
             1/10/96   Read 1st time          1/29/96                                               
             1/24/96   Favorably Reported     2/5/96                                                
             1/25/96   Read 2nd Time          1/30/96                                               
             1/29/96   Read 3rd Time          3/14/96                                               
             1/29/96   Passed/Adopted                                                               
                       Postponed              3/13/96*                                              
                       Passed/Adopted         3/14/96                                               
             3/25/96   Sent To Governor                                                             
             4/25/96   Signed by Governor                                                           
             1045      Act/Veto Number                                                              
           ---------------------------------------------                                            
*3/13/96  Postponed in House until 3/14/96.                                                         
                                                                                                    
Code Sections amended: 50-3-100                                                                     


SB 519 96                                          LC 21 3655

      SENATE BILL 519

      By:  Senators Crotts of the 17th, Balfour of the 9th,
           Langford of the 29th, Dean of the 31st and others

                        A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                               AN ACT


  1- 1  To amend Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of
  1- 2  Georgia Annotated, relating to the state flag, seal, and
  1- 3  other symbols, so as to designate English as the official
  1- 4  language of the State of Georgia; to provide for use of the
  1- 5  official language; to provide for construction; to provide
  1- 6  for remedies; to provide for exceptions; to authorize use
  1- 7  and printing of official documents in other languages; to
  1- 8  provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and
  1- 9  for other purposes.

  1-10       BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

                         SECTION 1.

  1-11  Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia
  1-12  Annotated, relating to the state flag, seal, and other
  1-13  symbols, is amended by adding a new article, to be
  1-14  designated Article 4, to read as follows:

                         "ARTICLE 4

  1-15    50-3-100. (Index)

  1-16    (a) The English language is designated as the official
  1-17    language of the State of Georgia.  The official language
  1-18    shall be the language used for each public record, as
  1-19    defined in Code Section 50-18-70, and each public meeting,
  1-20    as defined in Code Section 50-14-1, and for official Acts
  1-21    of the State of Georgia, including those governmental
  1-22    documents, records, meetings, actions, or policies which
  1-23    are enforceable with the full weight and authority of the
  1-24    State of Georgia.

  1-25    (b) This Code section shall not be construed in any way to
  1-26    deny a person's rights under the Constitution of Georgia
  1-27    or the Constitution of the United States or any laws,
  1-28    statutes, or regulations of the United States or of the
  1-29    State of Georgia as a result of that person's inability to
  1-30    communicate in the official language.



                             S. B. 519
                                 -1- (Index)

                                                  LC 21 3655

  2- 1    (c) State agencies, counties, municipal corporations, and
  2- 2    political subdivisions of this state are authorized to use
  2- 3    or to print official documents and forms in languages
  2- 4    other than the official language, at the discretion of
  2- 5    their governing authorities.  Documents filed or recorded
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  2- 7    municipal corporation, or political subdivision must be in
  2- 8    the official language or, if the original document is in a
  2- 9    language other than the official language, an English
  2-10    translation of the document must be simultaneously filed.

  2-11    (d) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section
  2-12    shall not apply:

  2-13      (1) When in conflict with federal law;

  2-14      (2) When the public safety, health, or justice require
  2-15      the use of other languages;

  2-16      (3) To instruction designed to teach the speaking,
  2-17      reading, or writing of foreign languages;

  2-18      (4) To instruction designed to aid students with limited
  2-19      English proficiency in their transition and integration
  2-20      into the education system of the state; and

  2-21      (5) To the promotion of international commerce, tourism,
  2-22      sporting events, or cultural events."

                         SECTION 2.

  2-23  All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are
  2-24  repealed.


















                             S. B. 519
                                 -2- (Index)