101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
SB0245

 

Introduced 1/31/2019, by Sen. Ram Villivalam

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Preferred Terminology in Government Documents Act. Provides that all State and local government, statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other official documents enacted on and after the effective date of this Act are required to use the term "Asian" when referring to persons of Asian descent. Provides that the term "Oriental" is prohibited. Provides that the General Assembly urges all State and local entities to review their statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other official documents and revise them to omit use of the term "Oriental" when referring to persons of Asian descent. Provides findings.


LRB101 09118 RJF 54212 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB0245LRB101 09118 RJF 54212 b

1    AN ACT concerning government.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Preferred Terminology in Government Documents Act.
 
6    Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds that the
7use of the term "Oriental" when used to refer to persons of
8Asian descent is outdated and is a pejorative. There is need to
9make clear that the term "Asian" is preferred terminology, and
10that this more modern and non-pejorative term must be used to
11replace outdated terminology.
 
12    Section 10. Preferred terminology.
13    (a) All State and local government, statutes, codes, rules,
14regulations, and other official documents enacted on and after
15the effective date of this Act are required to use the term
16"Asian" when referring to persons of Asian descent. The term
17"Oriental" is prohibited.
18    (b) The General Assembly urges all State and local entities
19to review their statutes, codes, rules, regulations, and other
20official documents and revise them to omit use of the term
21"Oriental" when referring to persons of Asian descent.