H 3610 Joint Resolution, By Toole
 A JOINT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION
 OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, BY ADDING SECTION 16 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ENGLISH
 MUST BE THE LANGUAGE OF ALL OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF PUBLIC GOVERNMENTAL BODIES
 IN THIS STATE, AND TO DEFINE THE TERM "OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS" TO MEAN ANY
 MEETING OF A PUBLIC GOVERNMENTAL BODY AT WHICH ANY PUBLIC BUSINESS IS
 DISCUSSED OR PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATED.

   02/08/11  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 48)
   02/08/11  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 48)

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE XVII OF THE CONSTITUTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1895, BY ADDING SECTION 16 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT ENGLISH MUST BE THE LANGUAGE OF ALL OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF PUBLIC GOVERNMENTAL BODIES IN THIS STATE, AND TO DEFINE THE TERM "OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS" TO MEAN ANY MEETING OF A PUBLIC GOVERNMENTAL BODY AT WHICH ANY PUBLIC BUSINESS IS DISCUSSED OR PUBLIC POLICY FORMULATED.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1. It is proposed that Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding:

"Section 16.    English is the language of all official proceedings of public governmental bodies in this State. Official proceedings are limited to any meeting of a public governmental body at which any public business is discussed, decided, or public policy formulated, whether the meeting is conducted in person or by means of communication equipment including, but not limited to, conference call, video conference, Internet chat, or Internet message board. The term 'official proceeding' does not include an informal gathering of members of a public governmental body for ministerial or social purposes, but the term does include a public vote of all or a majority of the members of a public governmental body, by electronic communication or any other means, conducted instead of holding an official proceeding with the members of the public governmental body gathered at one location in order to conduct public business."

SECTION    2.    The proposed amendment must be submitted to the qualified electors at the next general election for representatives. Ballots must be provided at the various voting precincts with the following words printed or written on the ballot:

"Must Article XVII of the Constitution of this State be amended by adding Section 16 so as to provide that English must be the language of all official proceedings of public governmental bodies in this State and to define the term 'official proceedings' to mean any meeting of a public governmental body at which any public business is discussed or public policy formulated?

Those voting in favor of the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'Yes', and those voting against the question shall deposit a ballot with a check or cross mark in the square after the word 'No'."