SRC-LBB S.B. 750 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 750 78R4471 ATP-DBy: Madla State Affairs 3/13/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, a state agency or political subdivision of the state with responsibility for publishing a public notice is not required to publish the notice in Spanish in a Spanish-language newspaper. As proposed, S.B. 750 requires a state agency or political subdivision of the state to publish any notice required under Chapter 4, Election Code, Chapter 551, Government Code, or any other law, to publish the notice in certain Spanish-language newspapers. This publication requirement is in addition to any other notice required by law. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Title 5A, Government Code, by adding Chapter 560, as follows: CHAPTER 560. PUBLICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICES IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER Sec. 560.001. DEFINITIONS. Defines "public notice" and "Spanish-language newspaper." Sec. 560.002. PUBLICATION IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER BY STATE AGENCY OR OFFICER. Requires a state agency or a state officer or employee with responsibility for publishing a public notice to publish the notice in Spanish in a Spanishlanguage newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the agency, officer, or employee is required to publish the public notice, more than 50 percent of the population is of Hispanic origin, and there is a Spanish-language newspaper of general circulation. Sec. 560.003. PUBLICATION IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. (a) Provides that this section applies only to a political subdivision, other than a county, any portion of which is located in a county in which more than 50 percent of the population is of Hispanic origin or a county in which more than 50 percent of the population is of Hispanic origin. (b) Requires a political subdivision or an officer or employee of a political subdivision with responsibility for publishing a public notice to publish the notice in Spanish in a Spanish-language newspaper of general circulation in each county in which the political subdivision is located and in which there is a Spanish-language newspaper of general circulation. Sec. 560.004. NOTICE IN ADDITION TO NOTICE REQUIRED UNDER OTHER LAW. Provides that notice published under this chapter is in addition to notice required by other law. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.