Chapter 3.3Governmental Linguistics

Section § 6219

Explanation

This California law requires all state government departments and agencies to use plain and straightforward language in their written documents. This means avoiding technical terms when possible and ensuring that documents are coherent and easy to read. The law applies to various types of documents, including contracts, forms, licenses, announcements, regulations, manuals, and memos needed for the agency's duties.

(a)CA Government Code § 6219(a) Each department, commission, office, or other administrative agency of state government shall write each document that it produces in plain, straightforward language, avoiding technical terms as much as possible, and using a coherent and easily readable style.
(b)CA Government Code § 6219(b) As used in this section, a “state agency document” means any contract, form, license, announcement, regulation, manual, memorandum, or any other written communication that is necessary to carry out the agency’s responsibilities under the law.
plain language state government documents technical terms easy to read state agency communication contracts forms licenses announcements regulations manuals memorandums coherent style document readability
(Added by renumbering Section 6215 (as added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1637) by Stats. 2004, Ch. 183, Sec. 133. Effective January 1, 2005.)