SB 179--
=================================================================================
SENATE BILL No. 179
By Senators Hardenburger, Becker, Bleeker, Bond, Brownlee, Clark, Corbin, Emert, Harrington, Harris, Huelskamp, Jordan, Kerr, Lawrence, Ranson, Sallee, Salmans, Schraad, Steffes, Tyson, Umbar- ger and Vidricksen
2-3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

AN ACT establishing English as the official language of the state; provid- ing exceptions. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas: Section 1. (a) The English language shall be the official language of the state of Kansas. (b) All official proceedings, records and publications shall be in the official language, except as provided in section 2 and amendments thereto. (c) Notwithstanding any laws to the contrary, no court in this state shall have the jurisdiction to hear a claim against the state based solely on the failure of the state to provide copies of laws, regulations, reports, forms or other documents in any language other than the official lan- guage, except as provided by section 2 and amendments thereto. (d) Nothing in this section, and no action by any agent, employee or official of this state as a result of compliance with this section, shall be construed to impose any liability upon or against the state of Kansas or its agents, employees or officials. Sec. 2. (a) The provisions of this act shall not apply: (1) To state employees in the oral performance of government busi- ness; (2) to instruction in foreign language classes; (3) to instruction designed to aid students with limited English pro- ficiency; (4) when deemed to interfere with the needs of the judicial system; (5) when public health, safety and emergency services require the use of other languages; (6) to the promotion of international trade and tourism. (b) Pursuant to the exemptions in subsections (a)(1) through (a)(5), no person shall be denied employment with the state, any constituent entities or municipalities based solely upon that person's lack of facility in a foreign language, except where related to the bona fide job needs reflected in the exemptions. (c) Commencing with the fiscal year which begins July 1, 1999, all costs related to the performance of services exempted under subsections (a)(1) through (a)(5) in languages other than the official language, includ- ing the preparation, translation, printing and recording of documents, records or brochures, shall be delineated as a separate budget line item in the budget of the state agency providing such services. Sec. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book.