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

Heading: The remaining provisions of the initiative can be given legal effect.

Text: The first part of the Lynden Transport test for severability, determining whether legal effect can be given to the remaining provisions of the statute, [169] requires us to examine whether the severed statute requires action or if it is merely a statement of public policy. [170] This is a relatively low threshold test that merely requires an enforceable command to implement the law. [171] So, for instance, a statute reduced to the statement that English is the official language of the State of Alaska could not be given legal effect because it would be only a statement of public policy. On the other hand, a statute that required the use of English in all official public documents and records could be given legal effect since it would require action by government officials and employees. As noted above the OEI must be redacted by severing the first sentence of AS 44.12.320. [172] Thus limited, it would still require that English be used in the preparation of all official public documents and records, including all documents officially compiled, published or recorded by the government. [173] This mandate is consistent with the OEI's purpose of promoting English as the common unifying language of Alaskans. Moreover, it would require action on the part of the legislative and executive branches of the State of Alaska and all political subdivisions, [174] and it could be enforced through a private right of action. [175] Contrary to the suggestion of the dissent, this court does not hold that severance is justified because the ... second sentence of section .320 ... still serves a useful purpose. [176] Rather, the redacted section imposes a substantial obligation on the part of state and local governments, and it reflects the complete scheme that several states have enacted to accomplish their purposes. [177] The first part of the Lynden Transport test  if, standing alone, legal effect can be given to the provisions that remain after severance of an invalid provision [178]  is clearly met here. [179]