Text of New York State Bill S01688

                                                                               
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K                   
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                                                               
                                         1688                                  
                                                                               
                              2001-2002 Regular Sessions                       
                                                                               
                                   I N  S E N A T E                            
                                                                               
                                   January 25, 2001                            
                                      ___________                              
                                                                               
       Introduced  by  Sens.  MARCHI, JOHNSON, McGEE, NOZZOLIO, 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.