IOWA
SF 165

Bill Text

PAG LIN
  1  1    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  1.18  IOWA ENGLISH LANGUAGE
  1  2 REAFFIRMATION.
  1  3    1.  The general assembly of the state of Iowa finds and
  1  4 declares the following:
  1  5    a.  The state of Iowa is comprised of individuals from
  1  6 different ethnic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds.  The
  1  7 state of Iowa encourages the assimilation of Iowans into
  1  8 Iowa's rich culture.
  1  9    b.  Throughout the history of Iowa and of the United
  1 10 States, the common thread binding individuals of differing
  1 11 backgrounds together has been the English language.
  1 12    c.  Among the powers reserved to each state is the power to
  1 13 establish the English language as the official language of the
  1 14 state, and otherwise to promote the English language within
  1 15 the state, subject to the prohibitions enumerated in the
  1 16 Constitution of the United States and in laws of the state.
  1 17    2.  In order to encourage every citizen of this state to
  1 18 become more proficient in the English language, thereby
  1 19 facilitating participation in the economic, political, and
  1 20 cultural activities of this state and of the United States,
  1 21 the English language is hereby declared to be the official
  1 22 language of the state of Iowa.
  1 23    3.  Except as otherwise provided for in subsections 4 and
  1 24 5, the English language shall be the language of government in
  1 25 Iowa.  All official documents, regulations, orders,
  1 26 transactions, proceedings, programs, meetings, publications,
  1 27 or actions taken or issued, which are conducted or regulated
  1 28 by, or on behalf of, or representing the state and all of its
  1 29 political subdivisions shall be in the English language.
  1 30    For the purposes of this section, "official action" means
  1 31 any action taken by the government in Iowa or by an authorized
  1 32 officer or agent of the government in Iowa that does any of
  1 33 the following:
  1 34    a.  Binds the government.
  1 35    b.  Is required by law.
  2  1    c.  Is otherwise subject to scrutiny by either the press or
  2  2 the public.
  2  3    4.  This section shall not apply to:
  2  4    a.  The teaching of languages.
  2  5    b.  Requirements under the federal Individuals with
  2  6 Disabilities Education Act.
  2  7    c.  Actions, documents, or policies necessary for trade,
  2  8 tourism, or commerce.
  2  9    d.  Actions or documents that protect the public health and
  2 10 safety.
  2 11    e.  Actions or documents that facilitate activities
  2 12 pertaining to compiling any census of populations.
  2 13    f.  Actions or documents that protect the rights of victims
  2 14 of crimes or criminal defendants.
  2 15    g.  Use of proper names, terms of art, or phrases from
  2 16 languages other than English.
  2 17    h.  Any language usage required by or necessary to secure
  2 18 the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the
  2 19 United States of America or the Constitution of the State of
  2 20 Iowa.
  2 21    5.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to do any of
  2 22 the following:
  2 23    a.  Prohibit an individual member of the general assembly
  2 24 or officer of state government, while performing official
  2 25 business, from communicating through any medium with another
  2 26 person in a language other than English, if that member or
  2 27 officer deems it necessary or desirable to do so.
  2 28    b.  Limit the preservation or use of Native American
  2 29 languages, as defined in the federal Native American Languages
  2 30 Act of 1992.
  2 31    c.  Disparage any language other than English or discourage
  2 32 any person from learning or using a language other than
  2 33 English.
  2 34    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  4.14  GENERAL RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
  2 35 FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LAWS.
  3  1    It is presumed that English language requirements in the
  3  2 public sector are consistent with the laws of Iowa and any
  3  3 ambiguity in the English language text of the laws of Iowa
  3  4 shall be resolved, in accordance with the ninth and tenth
  3  5 amendments of the Constitution of the United States, not to
  3  6 deny or disparage rights retained by the people, and to
  3  7 reserve powers to the states or to the people.
  3  8    Sec. 3.  CITATION.  This Act may be cited as the "Iowa
  3  9 English Language Reaffirmation Act of 2001".  
  3 10                           EXPLANATION
  3 11    This bill adds a new section to Code chapter 1 that
  3 12 declares that English is the official language of the state
  3 13 and that requires all state and local official government
  3 14 business to be conducted in English with certain exceptions.
  3 15    The bill also adds a new section to Code chapter 4 that
  3 16 establishes a statutory presumption that English language
  3 17 requirements in the public sector are consistent with Iowa
  3 18 law.  The bill also provides that any ambiguities in the Iowa
  3 19 English language requirements are to be resolved in accordance
  3 20 with the ninth and tenth amendments of the Bill of Rights of
  3 21 the United States Constitution not to deny or disparage rights
  3 22 retained by the people and to reserve powers to the states or
  3 23 to the people.  
  3 24 LSB 2095XS 79
  3 25 av/gg/8.1