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Promotion of Palaus Official Language in Outdoor Advertising Signs, RPPL 8-50 2012

AN ACT

To promote the use of Palau=s official languages in outdoor advertising signs, and for other related purposes.

THE PEOPLE OF PALAU REPRESENTED IN THE OLBIIL ERA KELULAU DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Legislative Findings. The Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that, pursuant to Article XIII, Section 1 of the Palau Constitution, the Palauan and English languages are the official languages of the Republic of Palau. Maintaining these official languages ensures that all people in Palau are able to communicate with each other. Furthermore, allowing the uncontrolled use of languages other than Palau=s official languages places an undue burden on both the people and the government of Palau to ensure that all people in Palau are able to understand all written and spoken information disseminated in the Republic. Despite these reasons for Palau having official languages, many advertisements are presented in languages other than the Republic=s official languages. Although the Olbiil Era Kelulau realizes that many people currently living in Palau speak languages other than Palauan or English, which necessitates the use of these other languages on these advertising signs, these other languages should not dominate a sign=s presentation. Based on the foregoing, the Olbiil Era Kelulau finds that all private businesses should be required to post any outdoor advertising signs in either the Palauan or English language. However, if a person wishes to use a language other than Palauan or English on a sign, the sign must still use the official language; the sign may also present the same information in a non-official language, so long as it is presented in characters no more than 25% of the official language characters.

Section 2. Prohibitions on outdoor advertising.
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, all outdoor advertising signs erected or maintained in the Republic of Palau that are visible to the public, shall be presented in:

(1) the English alphabet; and

(2) either the Palauan or English language.

(b) An outdoor advertising sign may utilize an alphabet or language other than those specified in subsection (a) of this section, provided that:

(1) the sign also uses an alphabet and language that conforms with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section;

(2) the non-official language is used only to translate the message presented in the official language; and

(3) the characters comprising the portion of the sign that does not conform with subsection (a) of this section are no more than 25% of the size of those characters comprising the conforming portion of the sign.

(c) Any person violating subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $500.00.

Section 3. Regulations. The Director of the Bureau of Commercial Development shall, pursuant to the requirements of 6 PNC Chapter 1, promulgate rules and regulations implementing Section 2 of this Act.

Section 4. Continuing Budget Authority.
(a) Pursuant to Section 327 of Title 40 of the Palau National Code, a Continuing Budget Authority for Fiscal Year 2013 is hereby enacted for all regular budget activities of the national government. The funding levels authorized shall be the same as those contained in RPPL No. 8-40, as amended by RPPL No. 8-46 and RPPL No. 8-49. Authorizations and appropriations of the United States grant funds under these circumstances are conditional on such funds being made available to the Republic.

(b) No person may expend, obligate, or certify the expenditure or obligation of any funds for any purpose in excess of thirty percent (30%) of a budget activity=s annual budget within a single quarter. This shall not apply to budget activities that require large purchases or payments in a single quarter. Any person who violates this section shall be jointly and severally liable to pay the National Treasury civil damages equal to the greater of $2,500 or the amount of any expenditure or obligation in excess of thirty percent (30%) of such budget activity=s annual budget; and shall be subject to a criminal fine not to exceed $500,000, or imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.

Section 5. Effective Date. This Act will take effect upon its approval by the President or upon its becoming law without such approval, except as otherwise provided by law.

PASSED: September 28, 2012

Approved this 28th day of September , 2012.

  /s/
Johnson Toribiong
President
Republic of Palau