H-1243              _______________________________________________

                                         HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4218

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State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives Chandler, Ballard, C. Smith, Patrick, May, Lewis, Barnes, L. Smith, Bumgarner, Betrozoff, McLean, Schoon, Walker, Fuhrman, Nealey, Brooks, Doty, Amondson, D. Sommers, Sanders, Holland, Haugen, S. Wilson, J. Williams and Silver

Read first time 2/27/87 and referred to Committee on State Government.

BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:

          THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a new section to read as follows:

Article I, section ____.     (1) English is the common language of the people of the United States of America and the state of Washington.  This section is intended to preserve, protect, strengthen, and perpetuate the English language, and not to supersede any of the rights guaranteed to the people by this Constitution.

          (2) English is the official language of the state of Washington.

          (3) The legislature shall enforce this section by appropriate legislation.  The legislature and officials of the state of Washington shall take all steps necessary to ensure that the English language and the role it has played as the common language of the state of Washington are preserved, protected, strengthened, and perpetuated. The legislature shall make no law which diminishes or ignores the English language or the role it has played as the common language of the state of Washington.

          (4) Any person who is a resident of or doing business in the state of Washington shall have standing to sue the state of Washington to enforce this section, and the courts of record of the state of Washington shall have jurisdiction to hear cases brought to enforce this section.  The legislature may provide reasonable and appropriate limitations on the time and manner of suits brought under this section.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of the foregoing constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.