The English language is the official language of the State of Alaska.
Repealed or Renumbered
August 24 is designated Wickersham Day in honor of James Wickersham, and is the occasion for school assemblies with appropriate programs, and other suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public in general.
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.
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 documents officially compiled, published or recorded by the government.
November 30 is designated Anthony J. Dimond Day in honor of 'Tony' Dimond, and shall be observed by appropriate school assemblies and programs, and other suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public at large.
Bob Bartlett Day is established on April 20 of each year to honor E.L. 'Bob' Bartlett, the 'architect of Alaska statehood,' for a lifetime of public service to Alaska and the nation. Bob Bartlett Day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
Alaska Flag Day is established on July 9 of each year to honor the creation of the design of the official flag of the state by Benny Benson and its importance as a symbol of the state. Alaska Flag Day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
All costs related to the preparation, translation, printing, or recording of documents, records, brochures, pamphlets, flyers, or other material in languages other than English shall be defined as a separate line item in the budget of every governmental agency, department, or office.
William A. Egan Day is established on October 8 of each year to honor William 'Bill' Egan, the first governor of the state of Alaska, for a lifetime of service to the territory and state of Alaska. William A. Egan Day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
Drunk Driving Victims Remembrance Day is established on July 3 of each year to commemorate the victims of drunk driving. The governor shall issue a proclamation to commemorate the day. The day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
Ernest Gruening Day is established on February 6 of each year to honor Ernest Gruening, doctor, editor, and statesman, for a lifetime of service to the territory and state of Alaska and the nation. Ernest Gruening Day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
If a holiday listed in AS 44.12.010 falls on a Saturday, the Saturday and the preceding Friday are both legal holidays for officers and employees of the state.
Article 02. DESIGNATED DAYS OF HONOR
The Alaska Day of Prayer is established on the first Thursday in May each year as an opportunity for residents of all faiths to join in united prayer to give thanks for blessings received, to request healing for wounds endured, to ask divine guidance for our leaders, and to bring wholeness to the citizens of our state and our nation.
Elizabeth Peratrovich Day is established on February 16 of each year to honor Elizabeth Peratrovich, past Grand President of the Alaska Native Sisterhood, for her courageous, unceasing efforts to eliminate discrimination and bring about equal rights in Alaska. Elizabeth Peratrovich Day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
Any person may bring suit against any governmental entity to enforce the provisions of AS 44.12.300 - 44.12.390.
If a holiday listed in AS 44.12.010 , except AS 44.12.010 (a)(12), falls on a Sunday, Sunday and the following Monday are both legal holidays.
Women Veterans Day is established on November 9 of each year to acknowledge and commemorate the sacrifices endured and valor displayed by American women veterans and to recognize their increasing role in the military. The governor shall issue a proclamation to commemorate Women Veterans Day. The day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
Juneteenth Day is established on the third Saturday in June each year to commemorate the abolition of slavery throughout the United States and its territories in 1865. The governor shall issue a proclamation to commemorate the day. On Juneteenth Day, citizens of the state are urged to reflect on the suffering endured by early African-Americans and to appreciate the unique freedom and equality enjoyed by all state citizens today.
The month of November each year is established as Avalanche Awareness Month. Avalanche Awareness Month may be observed by schools, community groups, and other public and private agencies and individuals with appropriate activities that increase the public's awareness of avalanche dangers, how to respond to avalanches, and the use of appropriate equipment in avalanche areas.
Article 03. STATE AGENCY OFFICE HOURS
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is established on December 7 of each year to commemorate the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and to honor the individuals who died as a result of the attack. The governor shall issue a proclamation to commemorate the day and shall direct that the Alaska flag be flown at half-mast on that day. Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
AS 44.12.300 - 44.12.390 shall not be construed in any way that infringes upon the rights of persons to use languages other than English in activities or functions conducted solely in the private sector, and the government may not restrict the use of language other than English in such private activities or functions.
AS 44.12.300 - 44.12.390 apply 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.
(a) No governmental entity shall require knowledge of a language other than English as a condition of employment unless the requirements of the position fall within one of the exceptions provided in AS 44.12.340, and facility in another language is a bona fide job qualification required to fulfill a function included within one of the exceptions.
(b) No person may be denied services, assistance, benefits, or facilities, directly or indirectly provided by the government, because that person communicates only in English.
Dutch Harbor Remembrance Day is established on June 3 of each year to commemorate the attack on Dutch Harbor on June 3, 1942, and to honor the individuals who died as a result of the attack and those inhabitants of Attu and Kiska who fell into enemy hands three days later and were held captive in Japan until the end of World War II. On Dutch Harbor Remembrance Day the many servicemen who died in 1943 while recapturing Attu and Kiska from the Japanese are also honored for their diligent service to the United States and to the state. The governor shall issue a proclamation to commemorate Dutch Harbor Remembrance Day and shall direct that the Alaska flag be flown at half-mast on that day. The day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
Family Day is established on May 1 of each year to celebrate the institution of the family. The month of May each year is established as Preservation of the Family Month to encourage the preservation of the institution of the family. Family Day and Preservation of the Family Month may be observed by suitable observances by families, such as a family discussion of the role of families, the rights and responsibilities of children and parents, and appropriate methods for the resolution of violent feelings in family conflict, and by exercises by civic groups and the public. In observance of Family Preservation Month, the Department of Health and Social Services shall encourage the prevention of child abuse and neglect in Alaska families.
(a) It is the policy of the state that, to the extent practicable, state agency offices that are intended to provide services directly to the public shall schedule the hours of work of their employees so that the offices are open at the times most convenient to the individuals being served and staffed by employees working 40 hours per week. Each office shall review the preferences and needs of its clientele and shall recommend to the commissioner or other executive head of the state agency the most suitable hours of operation for that specific location. Each office shall periodically review its hours of operation.
(b) In this section, 'state agency' means a department, institution, board, commission, division, authority, public corporation, committee, or other administrative unit of the executive branch of state government, including the University of Alaska, the Alaska Railroad Corporation, and the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation.
Article 04. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
The provisions of AS 44.12.300 - 44.12.390 are independent and severable, and if any provision of AS 44.12.300 - 44.12.390, or the applicability of any provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of AS 44.12.300 - 44.12.390 shall not be affected and shall be given effect to the fullest extent practicable.
(a) Former Prisoners of War Recognition Day is established on April 9 of each year to recognize and honor all former prisoners of war (POWs) from our nation's wars who have returned home. These POWs repeatedly demonstrated their devotion to duty, honor, and country, despite enduring captivity and sometimes brutal treatment by their captors. The governor shall issue a proclamation to commemorate the day, and the POW/MIA flag shall be flown that day at sites identified by the governor. Former POW Recognition Day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
(b) Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day is established on the third Friday of September each year to honor all prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIAs), unaccounted for from all our nation's wars or who died in captivity. These POWs and MIAs repeatedly demonstrated their devotion to duty, honor, and country, despite enduring captivity and sometimes brutal treatment by their captors. The fate of those unaccounted for and missing in action from our nation's wars causes considerable uncertainty for their families, friends, fellow soldiers, and veterans. This day is also an occasion for Alaskans to remember our country's enormous responsibility to do everything possible to account for those still missing in action. The governor shall issue a proclamation to commemorate the day, and the POW/MIA flag shall be flown that day at sites identified by the governor. POW and MIA Recognition Day may be observed by suitable observances and exercises by civic groups and the public.
(a) The following days are legal holidays:
(1) the first of January, known as New Year's Day;
(2) the third Monday of January, known as Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday as provided in (b) of this section;
(3) the third Monday in February, known as Presidents' Day;
(4) the last Monday of March, known as Seward's Day;
(5) the last Monday in May, known as Memorial Day;
(6) the fourth of July, known as Independence Day;
(7) the first Monday in September, known as Labor Day;
(8) the 18th of October, known as Alaska Day;
(9) the 11th of November, known as Veterans' Day;
(10) the fourth Thursday in November, known as Thanksgiving Day;
(11) the 25th of December, known as Christmas Day;
(12) every Sunday;
(13) every day designated by public proclamation by the President of the United States or the governor of the state as a legal holiday.
(b) For employment purposes, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday is a legal holiday for state employees who
(1) are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement; or
(2) are covered by a collective bargaining agreement whose terms
(A) include by name Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday; or
(B) have been amended to substitute a holiday on the third Monday of January for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday in place of another paid holiday.
(a) The government, as defined in AS 44.12.330 , 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 of 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.
(b) An individual may provide testimony or make a statement to the government in a language other than English, if the individual is not an officer or employee of the government, and if the testimony or statement is translated into English and included in the records of the government.
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