AB688: Bill Text

LRB-3847/3

RAC:skg:ks

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

1995 Assembly BILL 688

November 21, 1995 - Introduced by Representatives Ladwig, Zukowski, Powers, Nass, Grothman, Brancel, Porter, Gunderson, Huebsch, Handrick, Walker, Dobyns, Owens, Hahn, Green, Olsen, Skindrud, Vrakas, Ott, Ainsworth, Seratti, Musser, Albers, Goetsch, Kaufert, Lehman, Underheim, Hutchison, Ryba, Ziegelbauer and Prosser, cosponsored by Senators Drzewiecki, Buettner and Welch. Referred to Committee on State Affairs.

AB688,1,5 An Act to create 1.065 of the statutes; relating to: making English the official language of Wisconsin, mandating the use of English for all governmental written expression and permitting the release of governmental communications in additional languages when appropriate in certain circumstances.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill provides that the official language of Wisconsin is English and that all written expression by the state or any other governmental unit must be in English. The bill also provides that any written communication of the state or any other unit of government relating to international commerce or trade, public education, elections, public health and safety or law enforcement actions and legal proceedings may be released in other languages when appropriate to the special circumstances of an individual case, the implementation of a program in a specific instance or the discharge of a responsibility in a particular situation.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB688, s. 1 Section 1. 1.065 of the statutes is created to read:

AB688,2,3 1.065 Official language of Wisconsin. (1) The language of Wisconsin is English. Except as provided in sub. (2), all written expression by the state of Wisconsin or by any other unit of government in this state shall be in English.

AB688,2,8 (2) Any written communication of the state of Wisconsin or any other unit of government in this state relating to any of the following may be released in additional languages when appropriate to the special circumstances of an individual case, the implementation of a program in a specific instance or the discharge of a responsibility in a particular situation:

AB688,2,10 (a) A governmental program designed to promote commercial transactions involving a person from a country other than the United States.

AB688,2,12 (b) A governmental program designed to teach foreign languages to students or to teach English to students who are not proficient in English.

AB688,2,13 (c) An election for a federal, state or local public office.

AB688,2,15 (d) A governmental program designed to protect the public from imminent threats to physical health and safety.

AB688,2,16 (e) Any law enforcement action or legal proceeding.

AB688,2,17 (End)