Maryland - H.B. 886

2008 MD H.B. 886

 

MARYLAND 2008 REGULAR SESSION - 423RD SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

HOUSE BILL 886

 

HOUSE BILL 886

BY: DELEGATES MCDONOUGH, AUMANN, BATES, BEITZEL, BOTELER, BROMWELL, COSTA,

DEBOY, DWYER, ECKARDT, ELLIOTT, ELMORE, FRANK, GEORGE, HADDAWAY, IMPALLARIA,

JENNINGS, KACH, KING, KIPKE, KREBS, MALONE, MCCOMAS, MCKEE, MILLER, MINNICK,

NORMAN, O'DONNELL, OLSZEWSKI, RILEY, SCHUH, SHANK, SHEWELL, SMIGIEL, SOSSI,

STIFLER, STOCKSDALE, STULL, WALKUP, WEIR, WELDON, AND WOOD

INTRODUCED AND READ FIRST TIME: FEBRUARY 6, 2008

ASSIGNED TO: HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

 

BILL TRACKING REPORT: 2008 Bill Tracking MD H.B. 886

 

 

VERSION: Introduced

 

VERSION-DATE: February 6, 2008

 

AN ACT concerning

 

FOR the purpose of designating the English language as the official language of the State of Maryland; making provisions of this Act severable; and generally relating to the formal recognition of English as the official language of the State of Maryland.

BY adding to Article - State Government Section 10-1301 to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle 13. Official Language of the State of Maryland" Annotated Code of Maryland (2004 Replacement Volume and 2007 Supplement)

 

 

NOTICE: [A> UPPERCASE TEXT WITHIN THESE SYMBOLS IS ADDED <A]

 

TEXT: WHEREAS, Maryland comprises people from many ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, all of whom have contributed to this State the richness of their heritages; and

WHEREAS, Maryland has been greatly enriched by this diversity, and the government should always take steps to promote the dignity of all the heritages that form this State's pluralistic society; and

WHEREAS, It is not the purpose of this Act nor may this Act be construed to infringe on the rights of citizens to exercise the use of a language of their choice for private conduct; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

 

[A> SUBTITLE 13. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND. <A]

[A> 10-1301. <A]

[A> (A) (1) ENGLISH IS RECOGNIZED AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF GOVERNMENT OF THIS STATE. <A]

[A> (2) AS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE STATE, ENGLISH IS THE LANGUAGE OF GOVERNMENT FUNCTIONS AND ACTIONS. <A]

[A> (B) THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION APPLY TO: <A]

[A> (1) THE LEGISLATIVE, EXECUTIVE, AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT; AND <A]

[A> (2) THE STATE AND EACH POLITICAL SUBDIVISION AND MUNICIPAL CORPORATION OF THE STATE, INCLUDING EACH DEPARTMENT, AGENCY, UNIT, ORGANIZATION, AND INSTRUMENTALITY THEREOF. <A]

[A> (C) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL: <A]

[A> (1) WRITE AND PUBLISH EACH OFFICIAL DOCUMENT IN ENGLISH; AND <A]

[A> (2) CONDUCT EACH MEETING AND OTHER OFFICIAL ORAL COMMUNICATION IT AUTHORIZES IN ENGLISH. <A]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That if any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid for any reason in a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or any other application of this Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and for this purpose the provisions of this Act are declared severable.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect October 1, 2008.

 

SPONSOR: McDonough

 

SUBJECT: LANGUAGE & LANGUAGES (92%); LEGISLATION (90%); US STATE GOVERNMENT (90%); REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (90%); LINGUISTICS (90%); LEGISLATORS (90%);