Text of New York State Bill S01487

                                                                               
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K                   
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                                         1487                                  
                                                                               
                              1999-2000 Regular Sessions                       
                                                                               
                                   I N  S E N A T E                            
                                                                               
                                   January 25, 1999                            
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       Introduced  by Sens. MARCHI, DeFRANCISCO, JOHNSON, PADAVAN -- read twice
         and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
         on Judiciary                                                          
                                                                               
                   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 Assembly 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 Assembly concur), That the  foregoing  amendment
   17  be 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.                     
                                                                  LBD89102-01-9
.SO DOC S 1487          *END*                    BTXT                 1999