Assembly Bill A5350

2009-2010 Legislative Session

Makes English the official language of New York state

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2009-A5350 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S6746
Current Committee:
Assembly Governmental Operations
Law Section:
State Law
Laws Affected:
Add Art 9 ยงยง130 - 132, State L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2011-2012: A1258, S469
2013-2014: S1902
2015-2016: S1582
2017-2018: S2581
2019-2020: S163

2009-A5350 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the New York state English language empowerment act which deems English the official language of the government of the state of New York.

2009-A5350 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  5350

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 13, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  KOLB,  BURLING, BUTLER, CHRISTENSEN, CORWIN,
  CROUCH, ERRIGO, FINCH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.  of  A.  CALHOUN  --
  read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations

AN  ACT  to amend the state law, in relation to making English the offi-
  cial language of New York state

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1. The state law is amended by adding a new article 9 to read
as follows:

                                ARTICLE 9
                         OFFICIAL STATE LANGUAGE
SECTION 130. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.
        131. SHORT TITLE.
        132. OFFICIAL STATE LANGUAGE.
  S 130. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT. THE LEGISLATURE  HEREBY  FINDS
THAT,  THE STATE IS COMPRISED OF INDIVIDUALS FROM MANY ETHNIC, CULTURAL,
AND LINGUISTIC BACKGROUNDS, AND CONTINUES  TO  BENEFIT  FROM  THIS  RICH
DIVERSITY. THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED STATES, THE
COMMON  THREAD BINDING INDIVIDUALS OF DIFFERING BACKGROUNDS HAS BEEN THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE. COMMAND  OF  THE  ENGLISH  LANGUAGE  IS  NECESSARY  TO
PARTICIPATE  IN AND TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES AFFORDED BY
AMERICAN LIFE. ABSENT A RUDIMENTARY COMMAND  OF  THE  ENGLISH  LANGUAGE,
CITIZENS  OF  THIS  STATE ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN THE
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, EFFECTIVELY EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE, OR  FULLY
UNDERSTAND  THE  RIGHTS  AFFORDED THEM BY THE UNITED STATES AND NEW YORK
CONSTITUTIONS. SUCH CITIZENS ALSO HAVE A  MORE  DIFFICULT  TIME  FINDING
GAINFUL  EMPLOYMENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, HEALTH INSURANCE, AND OTHERWISE
AVAILING THEMSELVES OF THE FULL BENEFITS OF AMERICAN LIFE FOR THEMSELVES
AND THEIR FAMILIES.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06679-01-9

              

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