March 2016 Newsletter

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(The March 2016 Newsletter content: Ten bills are described in this newsletter. They will live or die during the next 17 days. Your calls will determine whether they pass of fail. The session is scheduled to end March 24.)

Amend the Constitution: Designate English
as Georgia’s Official Language

“The English language is designated as the official language of the State of Georgia … for each public record … each public meeting …including those governmental documents, records, meetings, actions, or policies which are enforceable with the full weight and authority of the State of Georgia. “
– Code Section 50-3-100, Act 1045, Signed by Governor Zell Miller April 25, 1996

S.R. 675¹ English as Georgia’s Official Language, Proposed Constitutional Amendment, pre-filed by Senator McKoon and introduced January 22, 2016, includes the following:

  • “English is the official language of the state of Georgia.… No law, ordinance, decree, program, or policy of this state or any of its political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, the administration of driver’s license examinations … shall use any language other than English for any documents, regulations, orders, transactions, proceedings, meetings, programs, or publications except as provided [herein]….”
  • “… English as the official language of the State … shall not be construed as infringing upon the rights … to use a language other than English in private communications or actions ….”
  • “The state and its political subdivisions may use a language other than English for any of [nine] purposes [listed in the bill].”

If S.R. 675 passes the House and Senate by 2/3 vote, voters in November will be asked this: “Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to provide that English is the official language of the State of Georgia?”

ACTION – Support. Contact House Judiciary Committee Representatives Willard, Ch., 404 656-5125; Fleming, V-Ch., 656-0152; Allison, Sec., 656-0188; Taylor Bennett*, 656-0220; Beskin, 656-0254; Bruce*, 656-7859; Caldwell, 656-0325; Evans*, 656-6372; Golick, 656-5943; L. Jones*, 656-7859, Kelley, 657-1803; Mabra*, 656-7859; Oliver*, 656-0265; J. Powell, 656-7855; Rutledge, 656-0109; Stephenson*, 656-0126; Welch, 656-0213; Weldon, 656-5105; Wilkinson, 463-8143. (*Democrat)

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