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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to state agency terminology used in describing the |
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landlocked territory on the western bank of the Jordan River. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 10, Government Code, is amended by adding |
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Subtitle Y to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE Y. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS |
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CHAPTER 2901. RECOGNITION OF JUDEA AND SAMARIA |
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Sec. 2901.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Official agency statement" means a rule, official |
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guidance, press release, written communication, or other work |
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product prepared by a state agency. |
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(2) "State agency" means an office, department, |
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commission, board, or other agency of any branch of state |
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government. |
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Sec. 2901.002. LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the |
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legislature to: |
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(1) refer to the land liberated by Israel from Jordan |
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during the 1967 Six-Day War by the land's historical names of "Judea |
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and Samaria," with the land south of Jerusalem referenced as |
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"Judea" and the land north of Jerusalem referenced as "Samaria"; |
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and |
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(2) prohibit use of the term "West Bank" in any |
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official agency statement. |
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Sec. 2901.003. PROHIBITED TERMINOLOGY. (a) Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b), a state agency in any official agency |
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statement may not include the term "West Bank" and may only use the |
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terms "Judea and Samaria," "Judea," or "Samaria," as applicable. |
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(b) A state agency may use the term "West Bank" in an |
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official agency statement if the executive head of the agency: |
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(1) determines use of the term "West Bank" in the |
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statement is in the interest of this state; and |
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(2) submits not later than the 30th day after the date |
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the executive head makes a determination under Subdivision (1) a |
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written explanation of the decision to the legislature, or if the |
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legislature is not in session, to the governor. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |