THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY McILHINNEY, RAFFERTY, FOLMER, VOGEL, FONTANA, WAUGH, FERLO, ALLOWAY, EARLL, SCARNATI, SOLOBAY, GORDNER, ARGALL, D. WHITE, KASUNIC, MENSCH AND BRUBAKER, MAY 10, 2011

REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MAY 10, 2011  

AN ACT

Providing for the English language as the official language of

the Commonwealth.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Official

Language Act.

Section 2.  Purpose.

(a)  Purpose.--It is the purpose of this act to preserve,

protect and strengthen the unifying role of English as the

official language of the Commonwealth. English has been this

nation's language by custom only and warrants special legal

protection.

(b)  Rights preserved.--This act shall not be construed to

infringe on the rights of citizens, who have every right to

choose their own primary language, in the use of language for

private conduct, nor shall this act be used to dictate language

policies for the operation and administration of organizations

or businesses in the unregulated private sector.

Section 3.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Official acts of government."  Any of the following:

(1)  Actions of the Commonwealth and of its political

subdivisions that carry the full weight and authority of law.

(2)  Official documents recorded and maintained by the

Commonwealth and its political subdivisions for the public

domain, including tax records, professional licenses, deeds,

real estate records, publicly probated wills and other

documents of the court systems and public proceedings of the

governing bodies of the Commonwealth and its political

subdivisions.

Section 4.  Designation of language of official acts.

English is recognized as the official language of the

Commonwealth and shall be designated as the language of official

acts of government.

Section 5.  Policies.

The Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall make no

policies expressing a preference for any language other than

English or diminishing or ignoring the unifying role of English

as designated under this act, subject to the limitations under

section 7.

Section 6.  Enforcement.

(a)  General rule.--Elected and appointed officers of the

Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall take all

reasonable steps to ensure that the role of English as the

official language is preserved and enhanced.

(b)  Standing.--Any citizen of this Commonwealth shall have

standing to bring an action against the Commonwealth or any of

its political subdivisions to enforce this section.

Section 7.  Limitations.

The provisions of this act shall not apply to the following:

(1)  When Federal law imposes contrary provisions.

(2)  When the public safety, health or justice requires

the use of other languages.

(3)  Instruction in foreign language courses.

(4)  Instruction designed to aid students with limited

English proficiency in their transition and integration into

the education system.

(5)  The promotion of international commerce or tourism.

(6)  The provision of interpretation for hearing impaired

individuals in American Sign Language.

Section 8.  Appropriations.

The General Assembly and the governing bodies of its

political subdivisions shall make no appropriation to promote

the use of or demonstrate a preference for any language other

than the official language, subject to the limitations under

section 7.

Section 20.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 90 days.