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English Only? Gov. Brown To Vote On Law Protecting Language Rights At Work

SACRAMENTO (AP) — A bill that arose from a dispute between a handful of lawmakers and the LPGA Tour is headed to Gov. Jerry Brown, three years after the tour rescinded a policy proposal calling for the suspension of players who did not speak English.

Sen. Leland Yee's bill would prohibit businesses from requiring or banning the use of any particular language unless it provides notice of circumstances in which the restrictions are merited, such as communicating on the job.

Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco, says no one should face discrimination for simply speaking their own language. His bill adds language protections to the state's civil rights act.

Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a previous version.

SB111 was sent to Brown on Monday, when the Senate voted 23-15 to accept Assembly amendments.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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