S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4048
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 1, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. DiPIETRO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee 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.
   § 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.
   § 131. SHORT TITLE. THIS ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE  CITED  AS  THE
 "NEW YORK STATE ENGLISH LANGUAGE EMPOWERMENT ACT".

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

                                                            LBD01691-01-1

 A. 4048                             2
 
   § 132. OFFICIAL STATE LANGUAGE. ENGLISH SHALL BE THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
 OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 1. THE STATE OF NEW YORK
 SHALL CONDUCT ALL OFFICIAL BUSINESS OF THIS STATE IN ENGLISH. ALL  OFFI-
 CIAL  DOCUMENTS,  REGULATIONS, ORDERS, AND PUBLICATIONS SHALL BE PRINTED
 IN  ENGLISH  AND  ALL  OFFICIAL  PROGRAMS,  MEETINGS,  TRANSACTIONS, AND
 ACTIONS CONDUCTED BY OR ON BEHALF OF THIS STATE AND  ALL  ITS  POLITICAL
 SUBDIVISIONS SHALL BE IN ENGLISH.
   2.  A.  OTHER  LANGUAGES  MAY  BE USED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND IN
 OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS, WHENEVER NECESSARY TO:
   (I) PROTECT THE HEALTH, SAFETY, OR LIBERTY OF ANY CITIZEN;
   (II) TEACH OR STUDY OTHER LANGUAGES;
   (III) PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CRIMINAL  DEFENDANTS  OR  THE  VICTIMS  OF
 CRIME;
   (IV) PROMOTE TRADE, TOURISM, OR COMMERCE;
   (V) FACILITATE ACTIVITIES PERTAINING TO THE COMPILATION OF ANY CENSUS;
   (VI)  COMPLY  WITH THE FEDERAL INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION
 ACT;
   (VII) USE PROPER NAMES, TERMS OF ART, OR PHRASES FROM  LANGUAGE  OTHER
 THAN ENGLISH; OR
   (VIII)  COMPLY  WITH THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OF
 AMERICA, OR THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
   B. EXCEPT IN EXIGENT CIRCUMSTANCES, WHEN AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT  DOCU-
 MENT  IS  TRANSLATED  INTO  ANY  LANGUAGE  OTHER THAN ENGLISH UNDER THIS
 SECTION, AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED IN THE SAME  DOCU-
 MENT, APPEARING IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO AFFORD THE READER THE OPPORTUNITY
 TO OBSERVE THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF ALL PHRASES USED.
   3. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO:
   A.  DIMINISH  THE  USAGE  OF,  PREVENT THE STUDY OR DEVELOPMENT OF, OR
 DISCOURAGE THE USE OF, ANY NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGE IN  ANY  CONTEXT  OR
 FOR ANY PURPOSE;
   B.  PROHIBIT  ANY  ELECTED  OFFICIAL  FROM SPEAKING TO ANY PERSON IN A
 LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH WHILE CAMPAIGNING OR  PROVIDING  CONSTITUENT
 SERVICES,  ALTHOUGH SUCH OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE ENGLISH AS MUCH
 AS POSSIBLE TO PROMOTE FLUENCY IN ENGLISH;
   C. DISPARAGE ANY LANGUAGE OR DISCOURAGE ANY PERSON  FROM  LEARNING  OR
 USING ANY LANGUAGE;
   D.  PROHIBIT  INFORMAL  AND  NONBINDING TRANSLATIONS OR COMMUNICATIONS
 AMONG OR BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT AND OTHER PERSONS IF THIS
 ACTIVITY DOES NOT AFFECT OR IMPAIR SUPERVISION, MANAGEMENT,  CONDUCT  OR
 EXECUTION  OF  OFFICIAL ACTIONS AND IF THE REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT
 MAKE CLEAR THAT THESE TRANSLATIONS OR COMMUNICATIONS ARE UNOFFICIAL  AND
 ARE  NOT BINDING ON THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE;
 OR
   E. PROHIBIT INDIVIDUALS FROM UTILIZING TRANSLATION  METHODS  OF  THEIR
 OWN  PROVISION TO COMMUNICATE WITH AN OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT AGENT OR ENTI-
 TY.
   4. AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "OFFICIAL" MEANS ANY GOVERNMENT ACTION  OR
 DOCUMENT THAT BINDS THE GOVERNMENT, IS REQUIRED BY LAW, OR IS AUTHORIZED
 BY LAW.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.