By:  Madla                                                        S.B. No. 750
	(In the Senate - Filed February 27, 2003; March 3, 2003, 
read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs; 
March 26, 2003, reported adversely, with favorable Committee 
Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 1; March 26, 2003, 
sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 750                                    By:  Armbrister


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the requirement that governmental public notices be 
published in Spanish-language newspapers.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 5, Government Code, is amended 
by adding Chapter 560 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 560.  PUBLICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICES IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE 
NEWSPAPER
	Sec. 560.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:                           
		(1)  "Public notice" means any notice that must be 
published in a newspaper under Chapter 4, Election Code, or other 
law by:
			(A)  a state agency or a state officer or 
employee; or              
			(B)  a political subdivision of this state or an 
officer or employee of a political subdivision.
		(2)  "Spanish-language newspaper" means a newspaper 
that is printed in Spanish.
	Sec. 560.002.  PUBLICATION IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER BY 
STATE AGENCY OR OFFICER.  A state agency or a state officer or 
employee with responsibility for publishing a public notice shall 
publish the notice in Spanish in a Spanish-language newspaper of 
general circulation in each county in which:
		(1)  the agency, officer, or employee is required to 
publish the public notice;
		(2)  more than 50 percent of the population is of 
Hispanic origin; and
		(3)  there is a Spanish-language newspaper of general 
circulation.   
	Sec. 560.003.  PUBLICATION IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER BY 
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION.  (a)  This section applies only to:
		(1)  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
		(2)  a county in which more than 50 percent of the 
population is of Hispanic origin.
	(b)  A political subdivision or an officer or employee of a 
political subdivision with responsibility for publishing a public 
notice shall publish the notice in Spanish in a Spanish-language 
newspaper of general circulation in each county in which:
		(1)  the political subdivision is located; and                         
		(2)  there is a Spanish-language newspaper of general 
circulation.   
	Sec. 560.004.  NOTICE IN ADDITION TO NOTICE REQUIRED UNDER 
OTHER LAW.  Notice published under this chapter is in addition to 
notice required by other law.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                           



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