S-1430.3 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5865
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State of Washington 55th Legislature 1997 Regular Session
By Senators Benton, Zarelli, Schow, Roach and Hochstatter
Read first time 02/17/97. Referred to Committee on Education.
AN ACT Relating to English as the official language of Washington; adding a new section to chapter 1.20 RCW; creating a new section; and providing for submission of this act to a vote of the people.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that English is the common language of the people of the United States and the state of Washington. By making the English language the official language of the state of Washington the legislature intends that this act preserve, protect, strengthen, and perpetuate the English language.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 1.20 RCW to read as follows:
(1) The legislature and state officials 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.
(2) Except as required in federal law, no government employee may provide documents, written information, literature, or any other written text in any language other than English. This section shall not apply to:
(a) Emergency personnel confronted with a situation concerning the health and safety of the public; or
(b) Certified interpreters appointed by a court to assist a non-English-speaking person in a legal proceeding.
(3) Any person who is a resident of, or doing business in, the state of Washington has standing to sue the state of Washington to enforce this section.
(4) The courts of record of the state of Washington have jurisdiction to hear cases brought to enforce this section.
(5) The legislature may provide reasonable and appropriate limitations on the time and manner of suits brought under this section.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The secretary of state shall submit this act to the people for their adoption and ratification, or rejection, at the next general election to be held in this state, in accordance with Article II, section 1 of the state Constitution and the laws adopted to facilitate its operation.
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