English Designated as Official Language; Constitutional Rights Not Denied; Authorization for Documents and Forms in Other Languages; Exceptions

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  2. Georgia Code
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  6. English Designated as Official Language; Constitutional Rights Not Denied; Authorization for Documents and Forms in Other Languages; Exceptions

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  1. The English language is designated as the official language of the State of Georgia. The official language shall be the language used for each public record, as defined in Code Section 50-18-70, and each public meeting, as defined in Code Section 50-14-1, and for official Acts of the State of Georgia, including those governmental documents, records, meetings, actions, or policies which are enforceable with the full weight and authority of the State of Georgia.
  2. This Code section shall not be construed in any way to deny a person's rights under the Constitution of Georgia or the Constitution of the United States or any laws, statutes, or regulations of the United States or of the State of Georgia as a result of that person's inability to communicate in the official language.
  3. State agencies, counties, municipal corporations, and political subdivisions of this state are authorized to use or to print official documents and forms in languages other than the official language, at the discretion of their governing authorities. Documents filed or recorded with a state agency or with the clerk of a county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision must be in the official language or, if the original document is in a language other than the official language, an English translation of the document must be simultaneously filed.
  4. The provisions of subsection (a) of this Code section shall not apply:
    1. When in conflict with federal law;
    2. When the public safety, health, or justice requires the use of other languages;
    3. To instruction designed to teach the speaking, reading, or writing of foreign languages;
    4. To instruction designed to aid students with limited English proficiency in their transition and integration into the education system of the state; and
    5. To the promotion of international commerce, tourism, sporting events, or cultural events.

(Code 1981, §50-3-100, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 1631, § 1; Ga. L. 2002, p. 415, § 50.)

Cross references.

- Program for limited-English-proficient students, § 20-2-156.

English version of insurance policy controls, § 33-1-22.

Municipalities prohibited from restricting the use of language other than English on signs for privately owned businesses, § 36-35-6.1.

Examinations to be conducted in English, § 43-34-26.

Law reviews.

- For review of 1996 state government legislation, see 13 Ga. U.L. Rev. 320 (1996).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Resolution (Ga. L. 1986, p. 529) adopting English as the official language of the State of Georgia has the force and effect of law. 1995 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U95-16.

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 17 Am. Jur. 2d, Consumer and Borrower Protection, § 16.

C.J.S.

- 3A C.J.S., Aliens, § 1788.

ARTICLE 5 HONORING REVEREND MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Effective date.

- This article became effective July 1, 2014.

Code Commission notes.

- Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 2014, Code Section 50-3-105 as enacted by Ga. L. 2014, p. 839, § 1/HB 702 was redesignated as Code Section 50-3-110 and Article 5 was redesignated as Article 6.


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