A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 1-1-697, RELATING TO THE USE OF LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH FOR THIS STATE AND ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, SO AS TO PROHIBIT FORMS OR SERVICES IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH, EXCEPT IN CASES OF EMERGENCY OR OTHERWISE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL LAW.

 

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

 

SECTION 1.  Section 1-1-697 of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

 

    Section 1-1-697. Neither this State nor any political subdivision thereof shall require, by law, ordinance, regulation, order, decree, program, or policy, the use of any language other than English;  provided, however, that provide any forms or services in a language other than English, except in cases of emergency or as otherwise required by federal law. However, nothing in Sections 1-1-696 through 1-1-698 shall prohibit a state agency or a political subdivision of the State from requiring an applicant to have certain degrees of knowledge of a foreign language as a condition of employment where appropriate.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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