Indiana - HB 1366

INDIANA 116TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY -- FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL 1366

INTRODUCED VERSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1366

 
BILL TRACKING REPORT: 2009 Bill Tracking IN H.B. 1366

2009 Bill Text IN H.B. 1366

VERSION: Introduced

VERSION-DATE: January 13, 2009

SYNOPSIS: State materials to be printed in English. Requires official documents or communications issued by, on behalf of, or representing the state to be issued in the English language. Provides for certain exceptions.

Effective:  July 1, 2009.
Citations Affected:  IC 4-1-12

Sponsors:
Crouch, Tincher, Walorski
 

January 13, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Interstate and International Cooperation.
 
NOTICE:  
[A> UPPERCASE TEXT WITHIN THESE SYMBOLS IS ADDED <A]

TEXT: Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SECTION 1. IC 4-1-12 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS (EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009):

[A> CHAPTER 12. ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT <A]

[A> SEC. 1. AS USED IN THIS CHAPTER, "OFFICIAL DOCUMENT OR COMMUNICATION" MEANS A WRITTEN DOCUMENT OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION THAT: <A]

[A> (1) BINDS OR COMMITS THE STATE; <A]

[A> (2) IS REQUIRED BY LAW; OR <A]

[A> (3) GIVES THE APPEARANCE OF PRESENTING THE OFFICIAL VIEWS OR POSITIONS OF THE STATE. <A]

[A> SEC. 2. AS USED IN THIS CHAPTER, "STATE" MEANS INDIANA OR ANY AGENCY OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND INCLUDES A BODY CORPORATE AND POLITIC ESTABLISHED AS AN INSTRUMENTALITY OF THE STATE. THE TERM DOES NOT INCLUDE A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION (AS DEFINED IN IC 3-5-2-38). <A]

[A> SEC. 3. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 4 AND 5 OF THIS CHAPTER, AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT OR COMMUNICATION ISSUED: <A]

[A> (1) BY; <A]

[A> (2) ON BEHALF OF; OR <A]

[A> (3) REPRESENTING; <A]

[A> THE STATE SHALL BE ISSUED IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. <A]

[A> SEC. 4. A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH MAY BE USED WHEN REQUIRED: <A]

[A> (1) BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, FEDERAL LAW, OR THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF INDIANA; <A]

[A> (2) BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OR PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY NEEDS; <A]

[A> (3) TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PARTIES AND WITNESSES IN A CIVIL OR CRIMINAL ACTION IN A COURT OR IN AN ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING; <A]

[A> (4) TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE TOURISM AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; <A]

[A> (5) TO TEACH: <A]

[A> (A) ANOTHER LANGUAGE TO STUDENTS PROFICIENT IN ENGLISH; OR <A]

[A> (B) ENGLISH TO STUDENTS OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY; AND <A]

[A> (6) BY LIBRARIES: <A]

[A> (A) TO COLLECT AND PROMOTE FOREIGN LANGUAGE MATERIALS; AND <A]

[A> (B) TO PROVIDE FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES. <A]

[A> SEC. 5. THIS CHAPTER MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO PROHIBIT AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE FROM USING A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO INDIVIDUALS IN THE COURSE OF DELIVERING SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. <A]

[A> SEC. 6. THIS CHAPTER MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO AFFECT THE ABILITY OF A PERSON TO EXERCISE THE PERSON'S RIGHTS UNDER: <A]

[A> (1) THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION; OR <A]

[A> (2) ARTICLE 1, SECTION 9 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF INDIANA. <A]

SPONSOR:  
Crouch