Connecticut - H.B. 5968

Referred to Committee on Government Administration and Elections
   
Introduced by: 
 
REP. PISCOPO, 76th Dist.
   

AN ACT CONCERNING AN OFFICIAL STATE LANGUAGE.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

That the Constitution of the State be amended to designate English as the official state language and provide that: (1) Neither the state nor any political subdivision of the state shall require, by statute, ordinance, regulation, order program or policy the use in the state of any language other than English; (2) state government officials and employees be bound by such provisions during the performance of government business; (3) no government document be valid, effective or enforceable unless it is printed in English; (4) the state and all political subdivisions of the state take all reasonable steps to preserve, protect and enhance the role of the English language as the official state language; and (5) notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the state and political subdivisions of the state may act in a language other than English to: (A) Assist students who are not proficient in the English language by providing education instruction in languages other than English to assure a rapid transition to English, (B) provide foreign language instruction as part of a required or voluntary education curriculum, (C) allow for Latin on the state seal and on government documents, (D) allow legislators to communicate with constituents in languages other than English, (E) comply with federal law, (F) protect public health and safety, (G) protect the rights of criminal defendants or victims of crimes, and (H) allow for the printing of proper names.

Statement of Purpose:

To make English the official state language.