ENROLLED HOUSE
JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 1042	By:	Terrill, Osborn, Faught, Christian, Reynolds, Duncan, Kern, Tibbs, Branan, Russell, Jolley, Brogdon, Coffee, Aldridge, Myers, Halligan, Newberry, Reynolds, Brown, Johnson (Mike), Barrington, Nichols, Bingman, Crain, Justice, Ford, Marlatt, Stanislawski and Schulz of the House

			and

	Sykes, Branan, Russell, Jolley, Brogdon, Coffee, Aldridge, Myers, Halligan, Newberry, Reynolds, Brown, Johnson (Mike), Barrington, Nichols, Bingman, Crain, Justice, Ford, Marlatt, Stanislawski and Schulz of the Senate

 A Joint Resolution directing the Secretary of State to refer to the people for their approval or rejection a proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma by creating a new Article XXX; providing that the English language is the common and unifying language of this state; providing that official actions of this state be conducted in English, with exception; prohibiting certain causes of action; providing for construction; granting certain authority to Legislature; providing ballot title; and directing filing.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 52ND OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
SECTION 1.  The Secretary of State shall refer to the people for their approval or rejection, as and in the manner provided by law, the following proposed amendment to the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma by creating a new Article XXX to read as follows:

ARTICLE XXX

Section 1.  As English is the common and unifying language of the State of Oklahoma, all official actions of the state shall be conducted in the English language, except as required by federal law.  No person shall have a cause of action against an agency or political subdivision of this state for failure to provide any official government actions in any language other than English.  Nothing in this Article shall be construed to diminish or impair the use, study, development, or encouragement of any Native American language in any context or for any purpose.  The Legislature shall have the power to implement, enforce and determine the proper application of this Article by appropriate legislation.

SECTION 2.  The Ballot Title for the proposed Constitutional amendment as set forth in SECTION 1 of this act shall be in the following form:

BALLOT TITLE

Legislative Referendum No. ____	State Question No. ____

THE GIST OF THE PROPOSITION IS AS FOLLOWS:

This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution.  It would add a new Article 30.  This amendment states that English is the common and unifying language of the state.  All official actions of the state would be in English, except as required by federal law.  No one would have a cause of action against an agency or subdivision of the state for failure to provide actions in any other language.  The amendment could not be construed to diminish or impair uses of Native American languages.  The Legislature would be able to enact related laws. 

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL — YES	_____________

AGAINST THE PROPOSAL — NO 	_____________

SECTION 3.  The Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, immediately after the passage of this resolution, shall prepare and file one copy thereof, including the Ballot Title set forth in SECTION 2 hereof, with the Secretary of State and one copy with the Attorney General.

Passed the House of Representatives the 6th day of May, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives

Passed the Senate the 22nd day of April, 2009.

	
Presiding Officer of the Senate