Opinion ID: 2600380
Heading Depth: 5
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The OEI was presented to voters as an English-only law.

Text: The parties dispute whether the OEI is properly characterized as an English-only law. ACL's statement in support of the initiative stated that  this bill will have no impact on public or private use of Alaska Native languages,  that the initiative will impose a limit only on the government, and that [p]rivate citizens will still be able to use any language they want, anywhere, at any time. (Emphasis in original.) The summary described English as our official language, a symbol which reminds Alaskans of every race, religion, and background of what we all have in common. In contrast, the opposition statement of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) warned that, if enacted, the law will have severe consequences for the many non-English speaking residents and citizens of Alaska. Highlighting some of these consequences, the statement cautioned that the law would not protect the use of Native languages, that it would require government employees to communicate with non-English speakers only in English even if they were able to speak the individual's language, that it would bar non-English speakers from receiving many services to which they are entitled, and that it would violate the constitutional rights of each Alaskan to speak in the language of their choice, to petition their government for redress of grievances, and to equal protection of the laws. We agree. The OEI, presented to voters as Ballot Measure 6, was entitled Requiring Government to Use English. The ballot measure contained a neutral summary prepared by the lieutenant governor, a Legislative Affairs Agency summary, a copy of the full text of the proposed statute, a statement in support of the statute drafted by its sponsor ACL, and a statement in opposition to the statute drafted by the ACLU. The neutral summary stated: This bill requires the state to use English in all government functions and actions. State records must be in English. The state means the legislature, all state agencies, local governments, school districts, public corporations and the university. Those entities may use non-English languages for international trade, emergencies, teaching languages, court suits, criminal inquiries, for elected officials to talk to constituents or to comply with federal law. Costs of non-English records must be identified. Persons who speak only English may not be denied state jobs or services. The bill does not affect private sector use of non-English languages.[ [38] ] The Legislative Affairs Agency summary explained that the OEI would require each public office, including each office of the state, public corporations and local governments, to use English in all functions, except in eleven enumerated circumstances. It further explained: A person who is not a public officer or employee may make a statement to the government in another language if it is changed into English and made a part of the record. (Emphasis added.) The summary concluded: The government may not stop the use of another language in a private function. A person may sue to enforce this measure.