Senate Bill S6746

2009-2010 Legislative Session

Makes English the official language of New York state

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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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2009-S6746 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:
A5350
Current Committee:
Senate Investigations And Government Operations
Law Section:
State Law
Laws Affected:
Add Art 9 §§130 - 132, State L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2011-2012: S469, A1258
2013-2014: S1902
2015-2016: S1582
2017-2018: S2581
2019-2020: S163

2009-S6746 (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-S6746 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2009-S6746 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  6746

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            February 2, 2010
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  NOZZOLIO,  O. JOHNSON,  LARKIN  -- read twice and
  ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
  Investigations and Government 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.
  S 131. SHORT TITLE. THIS ACT SHALL BE KNOWN AND MAY BE  CITED  AS  THE
"NEW YORK STATE ENGLISH LANGUAGE EMPOWERMENT ACT".
  S 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

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

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