Alaska State Language

English

Adopted on May 1, 1998

The English language was adopted as the official language of the state of Alaska on May 1, 1998.

Ballot Measure No. 6
AN INITIATIVE ADOPTING ENGLISH AS THE OFFICIAL STATE LANGUAGE OF ALASKA
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:

Section 1. Findings and Purpose
The people of the State of Alaska find that English is the common unifying language of the State of Alaska and the United States of America, and declare a compelling interest in promoting, preserving and strengthening its use.

Section 2. Official Language
The English language is the official language of the State of Alaska.

Section 3. Scope
The English language is the language to be used by all public agencies in all government functions and actions. The English language shall be used in the preparation of all official public documents and records, including all docu-ments officially compiled, published or recorded by the government.

Section 4. Applicability
This Act applies to the legislative and executive branches of the State of Alaska and all political subdivisions, including all departments, agencies, divisions and instrumentalities of the State, the University of Alaska, all public authorities and corporations, all local governments and departments, agencies, divisions, and instrumentalities of local governments, and all government officers and employees.

Section 5. Exceptions
(a) The government, as defined in Section 4 of this Act, may use a language other than English when necessary for the following purposes:
 

(1) to communicate health and safety information or when an emergency requires the use of a language other than English,
(2) to teach another language to students proficient in English,
(3) to teach English to students of limited English proficiency,
(4) to promote international relations, trade, commerce, tourism or sporting events,
(5) to protect the constitutional and legal rights of criminal defendants,
(6) to serve the needs of the judicial system in civil and criminal cases in compliance with court rules and orders,
(7) to investigate criminal activity and protect the rights or crime victims,
(8) to the extent necessary to comply with federal law, including the Native American Languages Act,
(9) to attend or observe religious ceremonies,
(10) to use non-English terms of art, names, phrases, or expressions included as part of communications otherwise in English, and
(11) to communicate orally with constituents by elected public officials and their staffs, if the public official or staff member is already proficient in a language other than English.

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