English only law: Effects on state govt.

The results are in and changes are coming to Oklahoma's constitution. Voters passed eight of the eleven state questions on Tuesday. One of them makes English the state's official language.

Oklahoma State Representative George Faught is the legislator behind the state question.

He says it's up to the state legislature to determine what documents and state business will be conducted in English only.

He expects any state licenses, forms and applications will be in English only. He says there will likely be some exceptions and exclusions, but again, that's something lawmakers will determine after they convene in February.

While the question may have passed with 76-percent approval, it will face legal challenges.

University of Tulsa professor James C. Thomas says it violates the right of free speech, and he plans on filing a lawsuit within the next two weeks.

"The Oklahoma Supreme Court held that an English only provision violated the free speech clause of the Constitution," said Thomas.

Thomas is also concerned about how the new law could affect commerce. He says it could hinder communications, but Faught says it shouldn't affect commerce at all. He says business can still be conducted in different languages, but if there is a specific state document that's required from a business deal, that may need to be in English.

The other question is: how will it affect public schools? Afterall, here are a number of English Language Learners or (ELL) students.

Tulsa Public Schools says it should not affect it's ELL programs because those are paid for with  federal dollars, and the programs are part of a U.S. Department of Education inititive.

The same is true for federal programs that the state Department of Human Services overseas.

The legislature convenes in February and will likely discuss what's included and excluded from the law then.