VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code
• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts
• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required)

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
  session legislation
• Bill Summaries
  session summaries
• Reports to the General Assembly
  House and Senate documents
• Legislative Liaisons
  State agency contacts

ACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2008 SESSION

• history | hilite | pdf | print version

081753600
HOUSE BILL NO. 55 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled December 5, 2007 A BILL to amend and reenact § 1-511 of the Code of Virginia, relating to English as the official language of the Commonwealth. ---------- Patrons-- Lingamfelter and Wright; Senator: Ruff ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 1-511 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 1-511. English designated the official language of the Commonwealth.

A. English shall be designated as the official language of the Commonwealth. Except as provided by federal law, no state agency or local government shall be required to provide and no state agency or local government shall be prohibited from or otherwise assist in providing any documents, information, literature or other written materials in any language other than English.

B.  Nothing contained in subsection A shall be construed to prohibit any state agency or local government from providing or assisting in the provision of any documents, information, literature or other written materials in any language other than English in connection with:

1.  Foreign language instruction,

2.  The administration of justice in the courts of the Commonwealth,

3.  Law-enforcement purposes, or

4.  The provision of health care services.