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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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relating to the establishment of English as the official language |
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of Texas and the requirement that official acts of government be |
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performed in English. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The legislature finds and declares: |
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(1) the people of the United States have brought to |
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this nation the cultural heritage of many nations; |
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(2) the people of the United States, despite their |
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many differences, have lived together harmoniously and |
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productively as citizens of one nation; |
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(3) the traditional and common language of the United |
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States and of this state is English; |
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(4) a knowledge of the common language is essential to |
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the full exercise of constitutional freedoms, the informed and |
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knowledgeable empowerment of voters, citizen checks against |
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government abuses, individual prosperity, and independence; |
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(5) the English language has been the strongest bond |
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among citizens of this nation and has contributed substantially to |
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national unity and societal cohesiveness; |
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(6) English has been this nation's language by custom |
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only and warrants special legal protection; |
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(7) government has a fiduciary responsibility to the |
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citizenry to ensure that it operates as efficiently as possible, |
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and the growth of multiple language bureaucracies and printing |
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represents an abrogation of this fiduciary responsibility; and |
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(8) this state, its political subdivisions, and the |
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federal government have a responsibility to ensure that citizens |
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have opportunities to learn English. |
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SECTION 2. Title 10, Government Code, is amended by adding |
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Subtitle H to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE H. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE FOR ACTS OF GOVERNMENT |
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CHAPTER 2351. ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF GOVERNMENT AND FOR |
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ACTS OF GOVERNMENT |
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Sec. 2351.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "official act |
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of government" means: |
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(1) an action of this state or a political subdivision |
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of this state that carries the full weight and authority of law; |
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(2) an official document recorded or first maintained |
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on or after September 1, 2011, by this state or a political |
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subdivision of this state for the public domain, including a tax |
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record, professional license, deed, real estate record, or publicly |
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probated will or other document of a court system; or |
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(3) a public proceeding of a governing body of this |
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state or a political subdivision of this state held on or after |
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September 1, 2011. |
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Sec. 2351.002. PURPOSE. It is the purpose of this chapter |
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to preserve, protect, and strengthen the unifying role of English |
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as the official language of this state. |
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Sec. 2351.003. ENGLISH AS OFFICIAL LANGUAGE. (a) English |
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is the official language of this state and is the language of |
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official acts of government. |
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(b) This state or a political subdivision of this state may |
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not make any policy expressing a preference for any language other |
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than English or diminishing or ignoring the unifying role of |
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English as designated by this chapter, except as provided by |
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Section 2351.004. |
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(c) An elected or appointed officer of this state or a |
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political subdivision of this state shall take all reasonable steps |
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to ensure that the role of English as the official language of this |
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state is preserved and enhanced. |
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Sec. 2351.004. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. This chapter does |
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not: |
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(1) supersede contrary provisions imposed under |
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federal law; |
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(2) prohibit the use of another language for the |
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public safety, health, or justice; |
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(3) prohibit instruction in foreign language courses; |
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(4) prohibit instruction designed to aid students with |
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limited English proficiency in their transition and integration |
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into the education system; |
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(5) prohibit the promotion of international commerce |
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or tourism; or |
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(6) prohibit a court or an administrative agency from |
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admitting into evidence or relying on a record that is from another |
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jurisdiction and originally written in another language, if the |
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court or agency determines the record is necessary for a proceeding |
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or hearing. |
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Sec. 2351.005. PROHIBITED APPROPRIATION. The legislature |
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or a governing body of a political subdivision of this state may not |
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appropriate any money to promote the use of or demonstrate a |
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preference for any language other than the official language, |
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except as provided by Section 2351.004. |
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Sec. 2351.006. CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER. This chapter may |
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not be: |
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(1) construed in any way to infringe on the rights of |
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citizens, who have every right to choose their own primary |
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language, in the use of language for private conduct; or |
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(2) used to dictate language policies for the |
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operation and administration of organizations or businesses in the |
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private sector. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |