LRB-3585/2
PG/MES/RAC/JTK:kjf/cjs:rs
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
February 13, 2008 - Introduced by Representatives Honadel, Bies, Davis,
Gunderson, Kerkman, Kleefisch, F. Lasee, LeMahieu, Lothian, Mursau,
Nass, Nygren, A. Ott, Owens, Petersen, Pridemore, Tauchen, Townsend, Van
Roy, M. Williams, Vos, Zipperer and Hahn, cosponsored by Senators
Grothman, A. Lasee, Leibham, Roessler and
Darling, by request of
Representative Roger Roth. Referred to Committee on Jobs and The Economy.
AB806,1,5
1An Act to renumber and amend 65.90 (2); and
to create 1.101, 1.103, 16.41
2(3m) and 65.90 (2m) of the statutes;
relating to: an official state language, use
3of English for governmental written expression, and requiring state agencies
4and local governmental units to provide separate line items for the costs of
5documents and other materials that are not in English.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill provides that the official language of this state is English. Currently,
this state has no official language.
The bill provides that, unless otherwise specifically required by law, all written
expression by all units of state and local government in this state shall be in the
English language, except that such expression may be in another language when
appropriate to the circumstances of an individual case, the implementation of a
program in a specific instance, or the discharge of a responsibility in a particular
situation. No similar requirement exists currently.
The bill requires each state agency to maintain a separate line in its state
operations appropriation account for all costs related to the preparation, translation,
printing, and recording of documents, records, brochures, pamphlets, flyers, or other
material in languages other than English.
Generally under current law, most local units of government that have the
authority to levy a general property tax (a city, village, town, county, school district,
and technical college district) are required to formulate a budget and hold public
hearings on the budget. This general requirement does not apply to first class cities
(presently only Milwaukee) and counties with a population of at least 500,000
(presently only Milwaukee County).
Under the bill, the local units of government to which the budget requirement
applies, and the city of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County, must include a separate
appropriation in their budget for all costs related to the preparation, translation,
printing, and recording of documents, records, brochures, pamphlets, flyers, or other
printed material in languages other than English.
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:
AB806, s. 1
1Section
1. 1.101 of the statutes is created to read:
AB806,2,2
21.101 Official state language. The official language of this state is English.
AB806, s. 2
3Section
2. 1.103 of the statutes is created to read:
AB806,2,9
41.103 Use of English for governmental written expression. Unless
5otherwise specifically authorized or required by law, all written expression by all
6units of state and local government in this state shall be in the English language,
7except that such expression may be in another language when appropriate to the
8circumstances of an individual case, the implementation of a program in a specific
9instance, or the discharge of a responsibility in a particular situation.
AB806, s. 3
10Section
3. 16.41 (3m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB806,2,1411
16.41
(3m) Beginning on July 1, 2009, each agency shall maintain a separate
12line in its state operations appropriation account for all costs related to the
13preparation, translation, printing, and recording of documents, records, brochures,
14pamphlets, flyers, or other material in languages other than English.
AB806, s. 4
15Section
4. 65.90 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 65.90 (2) (intro.) and
16amended to read:
AB806,3,2
165.90
(2) (intro.)
Such The budget
under sub. (1) shall
list include all of the
2following:
AB806,3,8
3(a) A list of all existing indebtedness and all anticipated revenue from all
4sources during the ensuing year and
shall likewise list all proposed appropriations
5for each department, activity and reserve account during the
said ensuing year
. Such
6budget shall also show actual, including a separate appropriation for all costs related
7to the preparation, translation, printing, and recording of documents, records,
8brochures, pamphlets, flyers, or other material in languages other than English.
AB806,3,12
9(b) Actual revenues and expenditures for the preceding year, actual revenues
10and expenditures for not less than the first 6 months of the current year and
11estimated revenues and expenditures for the balance of the current year.
Such
12budget shall also show for
AB806,3,14
13(c) For informational purposes by fund all anticipated unexpended or
14unappropriated balances, and surpluses.
AB806, s. 5
15Section
5. 65.90 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB806,3,2016
65.90
(2m) With regard to a 1st class city and any county with a population of
17500,000 or more, any budget, as that term is used in sub. (1), formulated by such a
18city and county shall include a separate appropriation for all costs related to the
19preparation, translation, printing, and recording of documents, records, brochures,
20pamphlets, flyers, or other material in languages other than English.
AB806,3,2322
(1) The treatment of sections 65.90 (2) and (2m) of the statutes first applies to
23budgets for the fiscal year beginning after the effective date of this subsection.
