Alaska Statutes 44.12.340 – Exceptions

(a) The government, as defined in Alaska Stat. § 44.12.330, may use a language other than English when necessary for the following purposes:

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Terms Used In Alaska Statutes 44.12.340

Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

(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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