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04 LC 21 7607
House Bill
1119
By: Representatives Franklin of the 17th, Hines of the 35th, Douglas of the 73rd, Amerson of the 9th, White of the 3rd, Post 2, and others
By: Representatives Franklin of the 17th, Hines of the 35th, Douglas of the 73rd, Amerson of the 9th, White of the 3rd, Post 2, and others
A BILL TO BE
ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To amend Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official
Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the official state language, so as to
provide that state agencies, counties, municipal corporations, and political
subdivisions of this state shall be prohibited from using or printing official
documents and forms or from transacting business in languages other than
English; to repeal certain exemptions; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 4 of Chapter 3 of Title 50 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to the official state language, is amended by
striking in its entirety Code Section 50-3-100, relating to the designation of
English as the official state language, constitutional rights not denies,
authorization for documents and forms in other languages, and exemptions, and
inserting in lieu thereof the
following:
"50-3-100.
(a) The English language is designated as the official language of the State of Georgia. The official language shall be the language used for each public record, as defined in Code Section 50-18-70, and each public meeting, as defined in Code Section 50-14-1, and for official Acts of the State of Georgia, including those governmental documents, records, meetings, actions, or policies which are enforceable with the full weight and authority of the State of Georgia.
(b) This Code section shall not be construed in any way to deny a person´s rights under the Constitution of Georgia or the Constitution of the United States or any laws, statutes, or regulations of the United Statesor of
the State of Georgia as a result of that
person´s
inability to communicate in the official language.
(c) State agencies, counties, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of this state areauthorized to use or to print prohibited from
using or printing official documents and forms or from transacting any
business or otherwise communicating in languages other than the official
language, at the discretion of their governing authorities.
Documents filed or recorded with a state agency or with the clerk of a county,
municipal corporation, or political subdivision must be in the official language
or, if the original document is in a language other than the official language,
an English translation of the document must be simultaneously
filed.
(d) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply when in conflict with federal law.:
(1) When in
conflict with federal law;
(2) When
the public safety, health, or justice requires the use of other
languages;
(3) To instruction
designed to teach the speaking, reading, or writing of foreign
languages;
(4) To instruction
designed to aid students with limited English proficiency in their transition
and integration into the education system of the state;
and
(5) To the promotion of
international commerce, tourism, sporting events, or cultural
events."
"50-3-100.
(a) The English language is designated as the official language of the State of Georgia. The official language shall be the language used for each public record, as defined in Code Section 50-18-70, and each public meeting, as defined in Code Section 50-14-1, and for official Acts of the State of Georgia, including those governmental documents, records, meetings, actions, or policies which are enforceable with the full weight and authority of the State of Georgia.
(b) This Code section shall not be construed in any way to deny a person´s rights under the Constitution of Georgia or the Constitution of the United States or any laws, statutes, or regulations of the United States
(c) State agencies, counties, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of this state are
(d) The provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply when in conflict with federal law.
SECTION 2.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are
repealed.