Text: SF00331 Text: SF00333 Text: SF00300 - SF00399 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 1.18 OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF STATE.
1 2 The official language of the state shall be the English
1 3 language and all official proceedings, records, and
1 4 publications shall be in the English language. This English
1 5 language requirement shall not apply to communications
1 6 intended for persons who are deaf or blind. The requirements
1 7 of this section establishing English as the official language
1 8 of the state shall not apply to any of the following:
1 9 1. To public employees in the oral or verbal, as opposed
1 10 to written, performance of government business if necessary
1 11 for effective communications.
1 12 2. To instruction in foreign language classes.
1 13 3. To instruction designed to aid students with limited
1 14 English proficiency.
1 15 4. When deemed to interfere with the needs of the judicial
1 16 system.
1 17 5. When public health, safety, and emergency services
1 18 require the use of other languages.
1 19 6. To the promotion of international commerce and tourism.
1 20 7. To any oral or written communications, examinations, or
1 21 publications produced or utilized by a driver's license
1 22 station, provided public safety is not jeopardized.
1 23 8. To personal communications relating to students. Such
1 24 communications may be in a language other than English if a
1 25 non-English language is necessary for effective
1 26 communications.
1 27 9. To any publication of any division of the department of
1 28 human rights. Written material produced by the divisions of
1 29 the department of human rights relating to any matter within
1 30 the scope of their authority may be published in any language
1 31 necessary to effectively communicate with the intended
1 32 recipients of the material.
1 33 10. To communications by any state agency required to be
1 34 made for purposes of compliance with federal law, regulations,
1 35 or requirements.
2 1 11. To any communications relating to the bureau of
2 2 refugee services in the department of human services.
2 3 Sec. 2. Section 84A.5, subsection 6, Code 1999, is amended
2 4 by adding the following new paragraph:
2 5 NEW PARAGRAPH. f. The center for new Iowans established
2 6 under section 84A.10.
2 7 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION. 84A.10 CENTER FOR NEW IOWANS.
2 8 1. For the purposes of this section, unless the context
2 9 otherwise requires, "foreign national" means a person who is
2 10 not a citizen of the United States, including but not limited
2 11 to a refugee, asylum seeker, lawful permanent resident, and
2 12 holder of a temporary visa.
2 13 2. The department shall establish a center for new Iowans
2 14 to provide immigration counseling, technical assistance, and
2 15 referral services to persons who are legal immigrants or
2 16 foreign nationals who want to work and reside or temporarily
2 17 stay in this state. The center may collaborate with the
2 18 bureau of refugee services in the department of human services
2 19 in providing assistance to refugees, but shall not duplicate
2 20 services to refugees. The department may contract for
2 21 administration and operation of the center with a nonprofit
2 22 agency that is designated by the United States information
2 23 agency to work with the agency's international visitors
2 24 program.
2 25 3. The center's services and activities to persons who are
2 26 legal immigrants or foreign nationals shall include but are
2 27 not limited to all of the following:
2 28 a. Providing information and assistance concerning current
2 29 immigration trends and laws. Any legal advice or assistance
2 30 shall be provided using a process approved by the Iowa bar
2 31 association.
2 32 b. Acting as a referral center to connect such persons
2 33 with appropriate support agencies and programs. Services and
2 34 programs may include but are not limited to any of the
2 35 following:
3 1 (1) Legal aid.
3 2 (2) Client outreach information and referral.
3 3 (3) Employment assistance in cooperation with workforce
3 4 development centers. This assistance may include training
3 5 center staff to assist legal immigrants and foreign nationals
3 6 in understanding social mores, etiquette, business practices,
3 7 health care services, and other fundamental information for
3 8 living in Iowa.
3 9 (4) Liaison services with the United States immigration
3 10 and naturalization service and congressional offices.
3 11 (5) Language translation of brochures and other
3 12 information distributed by public and private agencies.
3 13 c. Serving as an educational resource to employers and the
3 14 public regarding concerns and issues connected with employment
3 15 of foreign nationals.
3 16 d. Providing language translation services and working
3 17 cooperatively with Iowa legal aid societies in dealing with
3 18 civil cases.
3 19 4. Staffing for the center shall include a managing
3 20 licensed attorney who is knowledgeable regarding immigration
3 21 law, an education and referral counselor, support staff, and
3 22 other necessary positions.
3 23 5. The center may charge fees for services.
3 24 6. This section is repealed on July 1, 2004.
3 25 EXPLANATION
3 26 This bill relates to public provisions involving the use of
3 27 the English language and assistance to legal immigrants and
3 28 foreign nationals.
3 29 New Code section 1.18 establishes English as the official
3 30 language of the state, to be utilized in official proceedings,
3 31 records, and publications. Several exceptions to the
3 32 provisions are specified.
3 33 The bill establishes in Code section 84A.10 a center for
3 34 new Iowans in the department of workforce development. The
3 35 purpose of the center is to provide immigration counseling,
4 1 technical assistance, and referral services to persons who are
4 2 legal immigrants or foreign nationals who want to work and
4 3 reside or temporarily stay in this state. The center is to
4 4 collaborate with the bureau of refugee services and is not to
4 5 duplicate services to refugees. The department may contract
4 6 with a qualified nonprofit organization to administer and
4 7 operate the center. Basic services and assistance are
4 8 specified along with basic staffing provisions. The center is
4 9 authorized to charge fees for services. The bill provides for
4 10 repeal of the new Code section on July 1, 2004.
4 11 LSB 2725SS 78
4 12 jp/cf/24.1
Text: SF00331 Text: SF00333 Text: SF00300 - SF00399 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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