| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 1 MRSA §221 is enacted to read: |
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| | 1. Official language. English is the official language of the | State.__It is designated as the language of all public documents | and records and of all public proceedings and executive sessions. |
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| | 2.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context | otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following | meanings. |
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| A.__"Executive sessions" means a meeting at which only | members of the elected or appointed public body and their | legal counsel, authorized staff and invited witnesses may be | present. |
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| B.__"Official language" means the prescribed language of all | public documents, records and proceedings. |
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| C.__"Official public documents and records" means all | documents officially compiled, published or recorded by the | State. |
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| D.__"Public proceedings" has the same meaning as in section | 402, subsection 2 and includes the information recorded at | such proceedings. |
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| | 3.__Ballots.__Public documents and records specifically | include all ballots used in statewide or local elections. |
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| | 4.__Exemptions. The provisions of this section do not apply: |
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| A.__To all public proceedings between the State of Maine and | Canada when, in the opinion of the state department head or | representative involved in such proceedings, it is necessary | to conduct those proceedings wholly or partially in French | and to use official public documents and records that are | written wholly or partially in French during the | proceedings; |
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| B. To instruction in foreign language courses or other | requirements of the University of Maine System and the | State's public schools; |
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| C. To instruction designed to aid students with limited | English integrating into the general education system; |
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