AB 46

This bill provides that the official language of this state is English. Currently,

this state has no official language.

The bill provides that the legislature encourages the preservation of

Wisconsin's ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic heritage, through the teaching,

learning, and practice of languages other than English, to facilitate a multilingual

exchange of ideas and to foster mutual understanding and trust among all peoples.

However, this policy does not apply to any action that is specifically required to

comply with any law. No specific legislative policy concerning cultural diversity

exists currently.

The bill also 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.

In addition, the bill precludes any unit of state or local government in this state

from prohibiting any person from becoming proficient in any language or restricting

the oral or written use of any language for a nongovernmental purpose. Currently,

such action is prohibited under the federal and state constitutions, except that a

governmental employer may regulate the conduct of employees while the employees

are engaged in official responsibilities.