81R1401 EAH-D
 
  By: Chavez H.B. No. 4074
 
 
 
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 561 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 561.  PUBLICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICES IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE
  NEWSPAPER
         Sec. 561.001.  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. 561.002.  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. 561.003.  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. 561.004.  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, 2009.