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