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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