HLS 12RS-1178 ENGROSSED
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 579
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORTEGO
CULTURE/FRENCH: Provides relative to the official working language and certain
designations of the Council for the Development of French in La. (CODOFIL)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 25:651(A) and to enact R.S. 25:651(D), relative to the Council2
for the Development of French in Louisiana; to provide for the official working3
language of the council and its employees; to authorize the council to use certain4
other designations or names; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 25:651(A) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 25:651(D) is7
hereby enacted to read as follows:8
ยง651. Creation; domicile; purposes9
A.(1) The Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, hereinafter10
referred to as the "council", is hereby created within the Department of Culture,11
Recreation and Tourism to preserve, promote, and develop Louisiana's French and12
Creole culture, heritage, and language.13
(2) The official working language of the council and its employees shall be14
French.15
* * *16
D. To reflect the council's educational, social, economic development, and17
diplomatic missions as provided in this Chapter, the council shall also be authorized18 HLS 12RS-1178 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 579
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to identify itself as "Office of Francophone Affairs" in English or "Agence des1
Affaires Francophones" in French.2
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Ortego HB No. 579
Abstract: Relative to the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL),
provides that French shall be the working language of the council and its employees
and authorizes it to use certain designations.
Present law creates the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) in
the Dept. of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to preserve, promote, and develop La.'s French
and Creole culture, heritage, and language. Includes among the purposes of CODOFIL
overseeing development and expansion of the state's economic development and tourism
activities designed to promote our French culture, heritage, and language and promoting,
developing, and overseeing cultural and educational relations and exchanges within the state
and between the state of La. and other countries, provinces, and states that share La.'s
historical French heritage, culture, and language. Provides that council serves as the official
state agency in all relations and exchanges between the state and other countries, provinces,
and states enjoying membership or observer status in the Organisation Internationale de la
Francophonie and similar organizations.
Proposed law provides that the official working language of the council and its employees
shall be French. Also authorizes the council to identify itself as "Office of Francophone
Affairs" in English or "Agence des Affaires Francophones" in French, to reflect its
educational, social, economic development, and diplomatic missions.
(Amends R.S. 25:651(A); Adds R.S. 25:651(D))