SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A California state senator said Thursday that he is seeking a legal opinion to determine whether the LPGA Tour's language requirement for players violates state or federal law.
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Sen. Leland Yee is upset about a policy that requires players to speak effective English starting in 2009. The rule is effective immediately for new players, while veteran members will be suspended if they can't pass an oral English test.
The LPGA Tour expects to have the policy written by the end of the year.
Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco, said the rule might violate California laws covering workplace discrimination or disabilities. He expects an answer from the state Legislative Counsel's Office within a few weeks, before the tour returns to California.
If the office determines the language rule is legal, Yee said he will introduce a bill to prohibit the policy from being enforced when the tour comes to California.
The LPGA policy is "an absolute slap in the face of women, minorities, immigrants," Yee said.
State and federal civil rights laws were designed to prevent the type of discrimination he said is embodied by the LPGA Tour policy.
"Even though you may be the best golfer, you may not be the winner," he said. "That's wrong."
LPGA Tour officials could not be reached immediately for comment.
Yee said the tour's policy might be illegal because it will erect a barrier for players who are deaf or mute, as well as those who don't speak English.
It also might break laws or run counter to legal precedent regarding discrimination in the workplace. Yee noted that California courts overturned a state law requiring hospital workers to speak English.
Yee filed his request with the state legal office on Wednesday.
If the lawyers see a possible federal violation, Yee said he will turn that finding over to California's congressional delegation.
