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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE BILL NO. 712
BY SENATOR LAFLEUR
SCHOOLS. Provides relative to the establishment of an international school in Lafayette,
including an exploratory committee for such purpose. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact Part II-C of Chapter 8 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be2
comprised of R.S. 17:1970.31 through 1970.34, relative to establishment of an3
international school; to provide for legislative intent; to create an exploratory4
committee to develop an implementation plan for an international school; to provide5
for membership, duties and functions of such committee regarding the establishment6
of such school; to provide for an effective date to begin operation of the school; to7
provide for a report; and to provide for related matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. Part II-C of Chapter 8 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of10
1950, to be comprised of R.S. 17:1970.31 through 1970.34, is hereby enacted to read as11
follows:12
PART II-C. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IN LAFAYETTE13
§1970.31. Legislative intent14
A. It is the intent of the legislature to establish a world language15
immersion school for the express purpose of providing an expansive and16
challenging educational experience for the students of this state, thereby17 SB NO. 712
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enabling such students to reach their full potential and be productive citizens.1
B. The legislature finds that the development of a world language skills2
program and cultural expertise are crucial in addressing the economic3
challenges facing the state and nation in the global marketplace. Professions,4
including but not limited to, law, health care, education, tourism, hospitality,5
agriculture, and oil and gas all require an international dimension that reflects6
the ever-changing world environment and Louisiana's increasingly diverse7
population.8
C. The legislature recognizes that sustained, intensive, continuous9
sequences of second language study results in the following benefits:10
(1) Increases awareness of and appreciation for other cultures and11
people.12
(2) Develops a high proficiency in a second or third target language other13
than English.14
(3) Enhances problem-solving capabilities.15
(4) Improves memory and listening skills, and has a positive effect on16
intellectual growth.17
(5) Enhances understanding of an individual's primary language.18
(6) Better prepares students for the twenty-first century job market.19
(7) Preserves the heritage language of Acadians and the related economic20
value of the Cajun Creole culture in Louisiana.21
§1970.32. International school in Lafayette; creation22
There is hereby created an international language immersion school23
which shall be located in the city of Lafayette. The school shall open and24
formally begin operation by the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year. The25
school shall be funded by the state from monies appropriated therefor; and,26
full-time students at the school shall attend without payment of tuition.27
§1970.33. Exploratory committee; creation; membership; terms; duties and28
functions; voting; compensation29 SB NO. 712
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A. There is hereby created an exploratory committee, hereinafter1
referred to as "committee", to develop a plan regarding the creation and2
establishment of an international language immersion school, which shall be3
composed of thirteen members as follows:4
(1) The executive director of the Cecil J. Picard Center for Child5
Development and Lifelong Learning, or his designee.6
(2) The executive director of Le Centre International De Lafayette, or his7
designee.8
(3) One member to represent the French Consulate, appointed by the9
Consulate General of France in New Orleans, who shall serve as an ex-officio10
member.11
(4) Two members of the Council for the Development of French in12
Louisiana, appointed by the chairman thereof.13
(5) The city-parish president of Lafayette Parish, or his designee.14
(6) The superintendent of schools for the Lafayette Parish School System,15
or his designee.16
(7) One member to represent the Greater Lafayette Chamber of17
Commerce, appointed by the president of the chamber.18
(8) One member of the Senate whose district is located in Lafayette19
Parish.20
(9) Two members of the House of Representatives whose districts are21
located in Lafayette Parish.22
(10) A member of the Senate who is a member of the Acadiana23
delegation and whose district does not include Lafayette Parish, appointed by24
the president of the Senate.25
(11) A member of the House of Representatives who is a member of the26
Acadiana delegation and whose district does not include Lafayette Parish,27
appointed by the speaker of the House.28
B. The committee shall:29 SB NO. 712
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(1) Consider the location, structure, management, and operation of an1
international language immersion school.2
(2) Research potential agreements, in accordance with applicable law,3
with other public agencies with respect to developing partnerships and4
cooperative enterprises and undertakings related to or associated with an5
educational purpose or educational program affecting education at the school.6
(3) Provide for the collaboration and partnership with similarly designed7
schools.8
(4) Determine the curriculum to be offered at the school, including9
French as the primary immersion language and consider the addition of other10
languages to the curriculum, including but not limited to Spanish and Mandarin11
Chinese.12
(5) Establish criteria to be used in determining eligibility of students for13
enrollment.14
(6) Determine the number of students to be served by the school.15
(7) Determine the number and type of faculty and staff positions16
necessary for the efficient operation of the school.17
(8) Determine the budget necessary for the operation of the school.18
(9) Provide for the consideration of any other item or requirement that19
may be necessary to establish an international language immersion school.20
C. Seven members of the committee shall constitute a quorum and all21
official action of the committee shall require the favorable vote of a majority of22
those members present and voting. All members of the committee, including ex23
officio members, shall be voting members.24
D. Members of the committee shall serve until such time as the school is25
established and begins operation.26
E. Members of the committee shall serve without compensation.27
§1970.34. Report28
The committee shall submit a written report and implementation plan29 SB NO. 712
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for the establishment of an international language immersion school to the1
Senate Committee on Education and House Committee on Education not later2
than March 31, 2013.3
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not4
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature5
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If6
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become7
effective on the day following such approval.8
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Sherri H. Breaux.
DIGEST
Proposed law creates and provides for an international language immersion school to be
located in the city of Lafayette. Provides for the school to open and formally begin operation
by the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year. Creates an exploratory committee to develop
a plan regarding the establishment of an international language immersion school, to be
composed of 13 members as follows:
1. The executive director of the Cecil J. Picard Center for Child Development and
Lifelong Learning, or his designee.
2. The executive director of Le Centre International De Lafayette, or his designee.
3. One member to represent the French Consulate, appointed by the Consulate General
of France in New Orleans, who shall serve as an ex-officio member.
4. Two members of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana, appointed
by the chairman thereof.
5. The city-parish president of Lafayette Parish, or his designee.
6. The superintendent of schools for the Lafayette Parish School System, or his
designee.
7. One member to represent the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, appointed
by the president of the chamber.
8. One member of the Senate whose district is located in Lafayette Parish.
9. Two members of the House of Representatives whose districts are located in
Lafayette Parish.
10.A member of the Senate who is a member of the Acadiana delegation and whose
district does not include Lafayette Parish, appointed by the president of the Senate.
11.A member of the House of Representatives who is a member of the Acadiana
delegation and whose district does not include Lafayette Parish, appointed by the
speaker of the House. SB NO. 712
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Proposed law requires the committee to:
1. Consider the location, structure, management, and operation of an international
language immersion school.
2. Research potential agreements with other public agencies with respect to developing
partnerships and cooperative enterprises and undertakings related to or associated
with an educational purpose or educational program affecting education at the
school.
3. Provide for the collaboration and partnership with similarly designed schools.
4. Determine the curriculum to be offered at the school, including French as the
primary immersion language and consider the addition of other languages to the
curriculum, including but not limited to Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
5. Establish criteria to be used in determining eligibility of students for enrollment.
6. Determine the number of students to be served by the school.
7. Determine the number and type of faculty and staff positions necessary for the
efficient operation of the school.
8. Determine the budget necessary for the operation of the school.
9. Provide for the consideration of any other item or requirement that may be necessary
to establish an international language immersion school.
Provides for members of the committee to serve until such time as the school is established
and begins operation. Provides that such members serve without compensation.
Requires the committee to submit a written report and implementation plan to the Senate
Committee on Education and House Committee on Education not later than March 31, 2013.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:1970.31-1970.34)