BILL REQ. #: S-3345.1
State of Washington | 62nd Legislature | 2012 Regular Session |
Read first time 01/09/12. Referred to Committee on Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections.
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 the
secretary of state shall submit to the qualified voters of the state
for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to
Article III of the Constitution of the state of Washington by adding a
new section to read as follows:
Article III, section . . .. (1) The English language is the
official language of the state.
(2) All official business of this state must be conducted in
English. All official documents, rules, orders, and publications must
be printed in English and all official programs, meetings,
transactions, and actions conducted by or on behalf of the state and
all its political subdivisions must be in English.
(3) Other languages may be used by government officials, and in
official documents, whenever necessary to:
(a) Protect the health, safety, or liberty of any citizen;
(b) Teach or study other languages;
(c) Protect the rights of criminal defendants or victims of crime;
(d) Promote trade, tourism, or commerce;
(e) Facilitate activities pertaining to the compilation of any
census;
(f) Comply with the federal individuals with disabilities education
act;
(g) Use proper names, terms of art, or phrases from languages other
than English; or
(h) Comply with the Constitution and laws of the United States of
America or this Constitution.
Except in exigent circumstances, when an official government
document is translated into any language other than English under this
section, an English translation must also be provided in the same
document, appearing in such a manner as to afford the reader the
opportunity to observe the English translation of all phrases used.
(4) This section may not be construed to:
(a) Diminish the usage of, prevent the study or development of, or
discourage the use of, any native American language in any contest or
for any purpose;
(b) Prohibit an elected official from speaking to any person in a
language other than English while campaigning or providing constituent
services; although such officials are encouraged to use English as much
as possible to promote fluency in English;
(c) Disparage any language or discourage any person from learning
or using any language; or
(d) Prohibit informal and nonbinding translations or communications
among or between representatives of government and other persons if the
activity does not affect or impair supervision, management, conduct, or
execution of official actions and if the representatives of government
make clear that these translations or communications are unofficial and
not binding on the state or any political subdivision of the state.
(5) As used in this section, "official" means any government action
or document that binds the government, is required by law, or is
authorized by law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause
notice of this constitutional amendment to be published at least four
times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal
newspaper in the state.