Senate Bill S1902

2013-2014 Legislative Session

Makes English the official language of New York state

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations 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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2013-S1902 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Investigations And Government Operations
Law Section:
State Law
Laws Affected:
Add Art 9 ยงยง130 - 132, State L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: S6746
2011-2012: S469
2015-2016: S1582
2017-2018: S2581
2019-2020: S163

2013-S1902 (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.

2013-S1902 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2013-S1902 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  1902

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced  by Sen. NOZZOLIO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
  ment 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.
              

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