H.B. 387

1

ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF STATE
2 1997 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Sponsor: Tammy J. Rowan
5 AN ACT RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS IN GENERAL; DECLARING ENGLISH TO BE
6 THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE FOR THE CONDUCT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN
7 UTAH; REQUIRING THE RETURN TO THE GENERAL FUND OF ANY FUNDS
8 APPROPRIATED OR DESIGNATED FOR PROVIDING SERVICES IN ANOTHER
9 LANGUAGE; AND PROVIDING EXCEPTIONS.
10 This act affects sections of Utah Code Annotated 1953 as follows:
11 ENACTS:
12 63-13-1.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
13 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
14 Section 1. Section 63-13-1.5 is enacted to read:
15 63-13-1.5. Official state language.
16 (1) English is declared to be the official language of this state.
17 (2) Unless otherwise required by the United States or Utah Constitutions, all official
18 documents, transactions, proceedings, meetings, or publications issued, conducted or regulated by,
19 on behalf of, or representing the state and its political subdivisions shall be in English.
20 (3) Languages other than English may be used:
21 (a) when public health and safety needs require it;
22 (b) in foreign language instruction in the public schools, including the teaching of English
23 as a second language;
24 (c) in judicial proceedings, when necessary to insure that justice is served; and
25 (d) to promote and encourage tourism.
26 (4) All state funds appropriated or designated for the printing or translation of materials,
27 or the provision of services or information in a language other than English shall be returned to

1 the General Fund.
2 (5) (a) Each state agency that has monies appropriated or designated for the printing or
3 translation of materials or the provision of services or information in a language other than English
4 shall:
5 (i) notify the Division of Finance that those monies exist and the amount of those monies;
6 and
7 (ii) return those monies to the Division of Finance.
8 (b) The Division of Finance shall account for those monies and inform the Legislature of
9 the existence and amount of those monies at the beginning of the Legislature's annual general
10 session.
11 (c) The Legislature may appropriate any monies received under this section to the State
12 School Board for use in English as a second language programs.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-12-97 1:15 PM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

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