Text of New York State Bill A04613

                                                                               
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K                   
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                                         4613                                  
                                                                               
                              2001-2002 Regular Sessions                       
                                                                               
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y                          
                                                                               
                                   February 12, 2001                           
                                      ___________                              
                                                                               
       Introduced  by  M. of A. HERBST, CALHOUN, PRENTISS -- Multi-Sponsored by
         -- M. of A. BURLING, CROUCH, ERRIGO,  KOLB,  LITTLE,  MILLER,  SEAMAN,
         TOWNSEND,  WARNER, WIRTH -- read once and referred to the Committee on
         Governmental Operations                                               
                                                                               
                   CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY            
                                                                               
       proposing an amendment to article 1 of the constitution, in relation  to
         designating English as the official language of the state             
                                                                               
    1    Section  1.  Resolved  (if  the  Senate concur), That article 1 of the
    2  constitution be amended by adding a new section 13 to read as follows:  
    3    S 13. 1. ENGLISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF THE STATE.  THE  LEGISLA-
    4  TURE  IS  EMPOWERED  TO  MAKE ALL LAWS WHICH IT SHALL DEEM NECESSARY AND
    5  PROPER FOR CARRYING INTO EXECUTION  THE  FOREGOING  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
    6  SECTION.  NOTHING  IN THIS SECTION SHALL PROHIBIT THE STATE OR ANY POLI-
    7  TICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF FROM UTILIZING  OR  MANDATING,  AS  NEEDED  OR
    8  NECESSARY,  THE  USE  OF  LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH TO PROVIDE SUPPLE-
    9  MENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS FOR PUPILS OF LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY,
   10  DIRECTIONS OR OTHER INFORMATIONAL DEVICES. MASTERY OF  LANGUAGES,  OTHER
   11  THAN ENGLISH, WILL CONTINUE TO BE ENCOURAGED.                           
   12    2.  ANY  RESIDENT OF THE STATE SHALL HAVE STANDING TO SUE THE STATE TO
   13  ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION IN THE SUPREME COURT. THE  LEGIS-
   14  LATURE  MAY  PROVIDE  REASONABLE AND APPROPRIATE LIMITATIONS ON THE TIME
   15  AND MANNER OF SUITS BROUGHT UNDER THIS SECTION.                         
   16    S 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment  be
   17  referred  to  the  first regular legislative session convening after the
   18  next succeeding general election of members of  the  assembly,  and,  in
   19  conformity  with  section  1  of  article  19  of  the  constitution, be
   20  published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.           
                                                                               
                                                                               
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             { } is old law to be omitted.