State Language Legislation – 1997-98

• HB2532 – Would limit a child's enrollment in bilingual education or ESL instruction to four years. PASSED HOUSE, 37-22 ON 2/10/98; DIED IN SENATE COMMITTEE WHEN LEGISLATURE ADJOURNED

Article XXVIII – English Only amendment to state constitution, approved by voters in 1988; RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL BY THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT, 4/28/98

Court Dumps Ariz. English-Only Law – 1988 amendment ruled unconstitutional restriction of language minorities' access to government.
Associated Press, 28 April 1988
     Full text of Arizona Supreme Court's decision (requires Adobe Acrobat) 
     Arizona Court Strikes Down Law Requiring English Use
     New York Times, 29 April 1998
     State Justices Strike Down English Only
     Arizona Daily Star, 29 April 1998
     Court Rejects English-Only Law
     Arizona Republic, 29 April 1998

Arizona Legislature