H. B. 2473

          (By Delegates Overington, Walters, Sobonya,
Rowan, Sumner, Shott, Frich, Border, Nelson, J., Howell and Householder)

          [Introduced February 15, 2013; referred to the
          Committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §2-2-13, relating to requiring all state activities and records to be in English; and providing exceptions .
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
     That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §2-2-13, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. LEGAL HOLIDAYS; SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAYS; CONSTRUCTION OF
     STATUTES; DEFINITIONS; LANGUAGE.
§2-2-13. Activities and records of the government to be in English.
_____(a) The government shall conduct all activities in English unless use of another language is required to provide constitutional protections or is required for activities related to the teaching of a foreign language.
_____(b) All official papers, records and documents produced or used by the state, including ballots and other election materials, must be in English, unless the papers or documents in another language may be kept for historical or cultural purposes.



     NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require all state activities and records be in the English language. The bill provides exceptions .

     This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.