SB 179--
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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
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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.