H.B. No. 2085




AN ACT

relating to the availability of bilingual clerks for an election.             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 272.009, Election Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
	Sec. 272.009.  BILINGUAL ELECTION CLERKS.  (a)  The 
presiding judge of an election precinct subject to Section 272.002 
shall make reasonable efforts to appoint a sufficient number of 
election clerks who are fluent in both English and Spanish to serve 
the needs of the Spanish-speaking voters of the precinct.
	(b)  If the number of election clerks appointed under 
Subsection (a) is insufficient to serve the needs of the 
Spanish-speaking voters in the election, the authority holding the 
election shall appoint at least one clerk who is fluent in both 
English and Spanish to serve at a central location to provide 
assistance for Spanish-speaking voters.  On a primary election day, 
the county chairs of each party holding a primary shall each appoint 
one clerk under this subsection.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 2085 was passed by the House on May 6, 
2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	I certify that H.B. No. 2085 was passed by the Senate on May 
28, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Secretary of the Senate    



APPROVED:  _____________________                                            
 
                   Date                                                      




 
          _____________________                                          
 
                 Governor