Text: SF00164 Text: SF00166 Text: SF00100 - SF00199 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN
1 1 SENATE FILE 165
1 2
1 3 AN ACT
1 4 ENACTING THE IOWA ENGLISH LANGUAGE REAFFIRMATION ACT OF 2001.
1 5
1 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 7
1 8 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 1.18 IOWA ENGLISH LANGUAGE
1 9 REAFFIRMATION.
1 10 1. The general assembly of the state of Iowa finds and
1 11 declares the following:
1 12 a. The state of Iowa is comprised of individuals from
1 13 different ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. The
1 14 state of Iowa encourages the assimilation of Iowans into
1 15 Iowa's rich culture.
1 16 b. Throughout the history of Iowa and of the United
1 17 States, the common thread binding individuals of differing
1 18 backgrounds together has been the English language.
1 19 c. Among the powers reserved to each state is the power to
1 20 establish the English language as the official language of the
1 21 state, and otherwise to promote the English language within
1 22 the state, subject to the prohibitions enumerated in the
1 23 Constitution of the United States and in laws of the state.
1 24 2. In order to encourage every citizen of this state to
1 25 become more proficient in the English language, thereby
1 26 facilitating participation in the economic, political, and
1 27 cultural activities of this state and of the United States,
1 28 the English language is hereby declared to be the official
1 29 language of the state of Iowa.
1 30 3. Except as otherwise provided for in subsections 4 and
1 31 5, the English language shall be the language of government in
1 32 Iowa. All official documents, regulations, orders,
1 33 transactions, proceedings, programs, meetings, publications,
1 34 or actions taken or issued, which are conducted or regulated
1 35 by, or on behalf of, or representing the state and all of its
2 1 political subdivisions shall be in the English language.
2 2 For the purposes of this section, "official action" means
2 3 any action taken by the government in Iowa or by an authorized
2 4 officer or agent of the government in Iowa that does any of
2 5 the following:
2 6 a. Binds the government.
2 7 b. Is required by law.
2 8 c. Is otherwise subject to scrutiny by either the press or
2 9 the public.
2 10 4. This section shall not apply to:
2 11 a. The teaching of languages.
2 12 b. Requirements under the federal Individuals with
2 13 Disabilities Education Act.
2 14 c. Actions, documents, or policies necessary for trade,
2 15 tourism, or commerce.
2 16 d. Actions or documents that protect the public health and
2 17 safety.
2 18 e. Actions or documents that facilitate activities
2 19 pertaining to compiling any census of populations.
2 20 f. Actions or documents that protect the rights of victims
2 21 of crimes or criminal defendants.
2 22 g. Use of proper names, terms of art, or phrases from
2 23 languages other than English.
2 24 h. Any language usage required by or necessary to secure
2 25 the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the
2 26 United States of America or the Constitution of the State of
2 27 Iowa.
2 28 i. Any oral or written communications, examinations, or
2 29 publications produced or utilized by a driver's license
2 30 station, provided public safety is not jeopardized.
2 31 5. Nothing in this section shall be construed to do any of
2 32 the following:
2 33 a. Prohibit an individual member of the general assembly
2 34 or officer of state government, while performing official
2 35 business, from communicating through any medium with another
3 1 person in a language other than English, if that member or
3 2 officer deems it necessary or desirable to do so.
3 3 b. Limit the preservation or use of Native American
3 4 languages, as defined in the federal Native American Languages
3 5 Act of 1992.
3 6 c. Disparage any language other than English or discourage
3 7 any person from learning or using a language other than
3 8 English.
3 9 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 4.14 GENERAL RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
3 10 FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LAWS.
3 11 It is presumed that English language requirements in the
3 12 public sector are consistent with the laws of Iowa and any
3 13 ambiguity in the English language text of the laws of Iowa
3 14 shall be resolved, in accordance with the ninth and tenth
3 15 amendments of the Constitution of the United States, not to
3 16 deny or disparage rights retained by the people, and to
3 17 reserve powers to the states or to the people.
3 18 Sec. 3. CITATION. This Act may be cited as the "Iowa
3 19 English Language Reaffirmation Act of 2001".
3 20
3 21
3 22
3 23 MARY E. KRAMER
3 24 President of the Senate
3 25
3 26
3 27
3 28 BRENT SIEGRIST
3 29 Speaker of the House
3 30
3 31 I hereby certify that this bill originated in the Senate and
3 32 is known as Senate File 165, Seventy-ninth General Assembly.
3 33
3 34
3 35
4 1 MICHAEL E. MARSHALL
4 2 Secretary of the Senate
4 3 Approved , 2002
4 4
4 5
4 6
4 7 THOMAS J. VILSACK
4 8 Governor
Text: SF00164 Text: SF00166 Text: SF00100 - SF00199 Text: SF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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