Staff Analysis of the Legislation
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SUMMARY: LC 41 0555
Calls for a constitutional amendment that if passed by the General Assembly and the voters would:
- Declare English as the official language of the State of Georgia
- Require official actions of the state which bind or commit the state to be in English
- Laws, ordinances, decrees, programs, or policies of the state or its political subdivisions shall be in English
- Persons that speak only English shall not be discriminated against
- The state and its political subdivisions may use a language other than English for these purposes:
- teach or encourage learning of other languages
- protect the public health or safety
- teach English to speakers of other languages.
- permits the use of American Sign Language
- protect the rights of victims of crime and criminal defendants
- ensure equality of access to a court
- promote diplomacy, trade, commerce, and tourism
- create or promote state or agency mottos, inscribe public documents
- utilize terms of art or terms of phrases from other languages
- to communicate with speakers of other languages
- Residents or those doing business in Georgia has the right to sue any agency or official to seek judgment as to whether the above exclusions have been violated
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon approval of a constitutional amendment by the General Assembly and voters. If passed, enabling legislation would be considered.
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