Assembly Bill A5379

2019-2020 Legislative Session

Makes English the official language of New York state

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly 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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2019-A5379 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Senate Version of this Bill:
S163
Current Committee:
Assembly Governmental Operations
Law Section:
State Law
Laws Affected:
Add Art 9 §§130 - 132, State L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2009-2010: S6746
2011-2012: S469
2013-2014: S1902
2015-2016: A4333, S1582
2017-2018: A5411, S2581
2021-2022: A4048

2019-A5379 (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.

2019-A5379 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5379
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 11, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  DiPIETRO, HAWLEY, McDONOUGH -- read once and
   referred to the Committee 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.
              

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