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Dan Tesch From: Beety, Patricia [PBeety ©Imc.org] Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2010 3:37 PM To: Dan Tesch Subject: FW: English as Official Language Attachments: 4865_001. pdf Dan: below is the information our research department pulled for me on this issue. I will do some quick legal research as well to see if there are legal risks associated beyond those described in these materials. Pat Patricia Y. Beety Attorney at Law Tel: (651) 281 -1270 ( Fax: (651) 281 -1298 pbeetv,ir lmc.org www.lmc.org League of Minnesota Cities 145 University Ave. West J St. Paul, MN 55103 Connecting & Innovating since 1913 Pat, The only thing I found that the League has produced relating to using the English language is this article from the October 2002 Minnesota cities magazine, suggesting that for equal protection reasons, a city should consider communicating in more than one language. That would be in addition to common sense public safety and welfare reasons. Of course, having English as your "official" language does not preclude you from communicating in other languages, but it symbolically represents that no accommodation will be made. The article is attached, below. «4865_001.pdf» In certain instances, the city may even be required to communicate in other languages, notwithstanding an "official language" policy. For example, the city of Princeton in February 2009 asked us for assistance in finding language identification flash cards for individuals with limited English proficiency because it was required for a grant they sought dealing with assistance on foreclosures. Apparently many states have declared English their official language — at least according to this web site: http: / /www.proenglish.org /issues /offeng /states.html On the other hand, this story about a Nashville, TN ballot measure last year gives some good reasons why not to adopt such a stance, and the voters in Nashville apparently agreed. In Nashville, a Ballot Measure That May Quiet Ail but English (January 11, 2009) Nashville voters on Thursday rejected a proposal to make English the city's official language and largely prevent government workers from communicating in other languages. 1 •