Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697805103506.pdf (Marshall Islands)
Customary Law and Language Commission (Amendment) Act, 2015 BILL No:85ND1 NITIJELA OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS 37TH CONSTITUTION REGULAR SESSION, 2016 s Republic of the Marshall Islands Jepilpilin Ke Ejukaan CUSTOMARY LAW AND LANGUAGE COMMISSION (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2015 Index Section Page §1.

§2.

§3.

Short title.

.............................................................................................................................. 3 Amendment.
......................................................................................................................... 3 Effective Date.
....................................................................................................................... 5 SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SUBHEADING 7 7 l V01 Page1 Customary Law and Language Commission (Amendment) Act, 2015 BILL No:85ND1§1 NITIJELA OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS 36TH CONSTITUTION REGULAR SESSION, 2015 s Republic of the Marshall Islands Jepilpilin Ke Ejukaan CUSTOMARY LAW AND LANGUAGE COMMISSION (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2015 AN ACT to amend Title 39, Chapter 1 of the MIRC, the Customary Law and Language Commission Act, in order to give legal recognition to the Marshallese language as the national language and the Marshallese language and English language as official languages, and to ensure that official publications and public notices are given in both Marshallese and English languages.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE NITIJELA OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS §1.

Short title.

This Act may be cited as the Customary Law and Language Commission (Amendment) Act, 2015.

§2.

Amendment.

Section 107 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a new section, to read as follows: “§107A.

National and Official Language (1) (2) The national language of the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall be Marshallese language.
The official languages of the Republic of the Marshall Islands shall be Marshallese language and English language.
(3) The commission shall ensure: l V01 Page3 BILL No:85ND1§2 Customary Law and Language Commission (Amendment) Act, 2015 (i) (ii) the development and use of both the Marshallese and English language in all communications, public signs, press notices, publicity campaigns, advertisements and exhibitions; that every translators must undergo training and must be certified by the College of Marshall Islands in corroboration with the Customary Law and Language Commission.” Section 107 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a new section, to read as follows: “§107B.
Publication of public sign, press, notice, advertisement, etc.

Any public sign, press notice, publicity campaign, advertisement, or any form of exhibitions or notices for the public must be published in both Marshallese and English languages and must comply with the Marshallese Language Orthography (Spelling) Act of which the Marshallese language must appear before the English language.
Any publication made pursuant to Subsection (1) of this section either by the national the Government, or by the local government or any self-employed persons, private institutions or any organizations for public consumption must be reviewed and approved by the Customary Law and Language Commission, unless such review and approval is waived by the Commission due to reasons beyond its capabilities.
For the purpose of this section “Public Consumption” means any documents that is intended for public’s awareness or usage, and is deemed necessary by the Customary Law and Language Commission to be reviewed.” Section 107 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a new section, to read as follows: “§107C.

Application of the General Interpretations Act: Exception Section 405 of the General Interpretation Act shall not apply to this Section.
Where a possible difference of interpretation occurs between the English text and the Marshallese text, the Marshallese text shall prevail.” Page4 V01 r Customary Law and Language Commission (Amendment) Act, 2015 BILL No:85ND1§3 §3.

Effective Date.

This Act shall take effect one year after the date of certification of the bill in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Rules of Procedure of the Nitijela.
CERTIFICATE I hereby certify: That Nitijela Bill No: 85ND1 was passed by the Nitijela of the Republic of the 1.

Marshall Islands on the _______ day of ______________________ 2015; and 2.

That I am satisfied that Nitijela Bill No: 85ND1 was passed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Rules of Procedures of the Nitijela.

I hereby place my signature before the Clerk this ______ day of ____________ 2015.
Attest: ___________________________ ___________________________ Hon.

Donald F. Capelle Speaker Lena Tiobech Clerk Nitijela of the Marshall Islands Nitijela of the Marshall Islands l V01 Page5 Customary Law and Language Commission (Amendment) Act, 2015 SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SUBHEADING l V01 Page7