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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirement that governmental public notices be |
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published in Spanish-language newspapers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 5, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 561 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 561. PUBLICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICES IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE |
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NEWSPAPER |
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Sec. 561.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Public notice" means any notice that must be |
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published in a newspaper under Chapter 4, Election Code, or other |
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law by: |
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(A) a state agency or a state officer or |
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employee; or |
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(B) a political subdivision of this state or an |
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officer or employee of a political subdivision. |
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(2) "Spanish-language newspaper" means a newspaper |
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that is printed in Spanish. |
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Sec. 561.002. PUBLICATION IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER BY |
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STATE AGENCY OR OFFICER. A state agency or a state officer or |
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employee with responsibility for publishing a public notice shall |
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publish the notice in Spanish in a Spanish-language newspaper of |
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general circulation in each county in which: |
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(1) the agency, officer, or employee is required to |
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publish the public notice; |
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(2) more than 50 percent of the population is of |
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Hispanic origin; and |
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(3) there is a Spanish-language newspaper of general |
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circulation. |
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Sec. 561.003. PUBLICATION IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER BY |
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POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. (a) This section applies only to: |
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(1) a political subdivision, other than a county, any |
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portion of which is located in a county in which more than 50 |
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percent of the population is of Hispanic origin; or |
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(2) a county in which more than 50 percent of the |
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population is of Hispanic origin. |
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(b) A political subdivision or an officer or employee of a |
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political subdivision with responsibility for publishing a public |
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notice shall publish the notice in Spanish in a Spanish-language |
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newspaper of general circulation in each county in which: |
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(1) the political subdivision is located; and |
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(2) there is a Spanish-language newspaper of general |
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circulation. |
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Sec. 561.004. NOTICE IN ADDITION TO NOTICE REQUIRED UNDER |
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OTHER LAW. Notice published under this chapter is in addition to |
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notice required by other law. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |