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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE BILL NO. 712
BY SENATORS LAFLEUR, ALLAIN, CORTEZ, GUILLORY, JOHNS, MILLS,
MORRISH AND PERRY AND REPRESENTATI VES BARRAS,
BERTHELOT, STUART BISHOP, CHAMPAGNE, DANAHAY,
GISCLAIR, GUILLORY, GUINN, HARRISON, HENSGENS, HUVAL,
JOHNSON, JONES, NANCY LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY,
MONTOUCET, ORTEGO, PIERRE, PRICE, RICHARD, ST.
GERMAIN, THIBAUT, THIERRY AND WHITNEY
SCHOOLS. Establishes an exploratory committee to develop a plan regarding the
establishment of an international language immersion school at ULL. (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 1970.33, relative to establishment of an3
international language immersion school exploratory committee; to provide relative4
to the development of an implementation plan for an international school; to provide5
for membership, duties and functions of such committee; to provide for a report; and6
to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. Part II-C of Chapter 8 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of9
1950, to be comprised of R.S. 17:1970.31 through 1970.33, is hereby enacted to read as10
follows:11
PART II-C. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL IN LAFAYETTE12
§1970.31. Legislative intent13
A. It is the intent of the legislature to establish a world language14
immersion school for the express purpose of providing an expansive and15
challenging educational experience for the students of this state, thereby16
enabling such students to reach their full potential and be productive citizens.17 SB NO. 712
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B. The legislature finds that the development of a world language skills1
program and cultural expertise are crucial in addressing the economic2
challenges facing the state and nation in the global marketplace. Professions,3
including but not limited to, law, health care, education, tourism, hospitality,4
agriculture, and oil and gas all require an international dimension that reflects5
the ever-changing world environment and Louisiana's increasingly diverse6
population.7
C. The legislature recognizes that sustained, intensive, continuous8
sequences of second language study results in the following benefits:9
(1) Increases awareness of and appreciation for other cultures and10
people.11
(2) Develops a high proficiency in a second or third target language other12
than English.13
(3) Enhances problem-solving capabilities.14
(4) Improves memory and listening skills, and has a positive effect on15
intellectual growth.16
(5) Enhances understanding of an individual's primary language.17
(6) Better prepares students for the twenty-first century job market.18
(7) Preserves the heritage language of Acadians and the related economic19
value of the Cajun Creole culture in Louisiana.20
§1970.32. International school in Lafayette; exploratory committee; creation;21
membership; terms; duties and functions; voting; compensation22
A. There is hereby created an exploratory committee, hereinafter23
referred to as "committee", to develop a plan regarding the creation and24
establishment of an international language immersion school at the University25
of Louisiana at Lafayette. The committee shall be composed of thirteen26
members as follows:27
(1) The executive director of the Cecil J. Picard Center for Child28
Development and Lifelong Learning, or his designee.29 SB NO. 712
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(2) The executive director of Le Centre International De Lafayette, or his1
designee.2
(3) One member to represent the French Consulate, appointed by the3
Consulate General of France in New Orleans, who shall serve as an ex officio4
member.5
(4) Two members of the Council for the Development of French in6
Louisiana, appointed by the chairman thereof.7
(5) The city-parish president of Lafayette Parish, or his designee.8
(6) The superintendent of schools for the Lafayette Parish School System,9
or his designee.10
(7) One member to represent the Greater Lafayette Chamber of11
Commerce, appointed by the president of the chamber.12
(8) One member of the Senate whose district is located in Lafayette13
Parish.14
(9) Two members of the House of Representatives whose districts are15
located in Lafayette Parish.16
(10) A member of the Senate who is a member of the Acadiana17
delegation and whose district does not include Lafayette Parish, appointed by18
the president of the Senate.19
(11) A member of the House of Representatives who is a member of the20
Acadiana delegation and whose district does not include Lafayette Parish,21
appointed by the speaker of the House.22
B. The committee shall:23
(1) Consider the location, structure, management, and operation of an24
international language immersion school.25
(2) Research potential agreements, in accordance with applicable law,26
with other public agencies with respect to developing partnerships and27
cooperative enterprises and undertakings related to or associated with an28
educational purpose or educational program affecting education at the school.29 SB NO. 712
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(3) Provide for the collaboration and partnership with similarly designed1
schools.2
(4) Determine the curriculum to be offered at the school, including3
French as the primary immersion language and consider the addition of other4
languages to the curriculum, including but not limited to Spanish and Mandarin5
Chinese.6
(5) Establish criteria to be used in determining eligibility of students for7
enrollment.8
(6) Determine the number of students to be served by the school.9
(7) Determine the number and type of faculty and staff positions10
necessary for the efficient operation of the school.11
(8) Determine the budget necessary for the operation of the school.12
(9) Determine the feasibility of opening the school by the beginning of the13
2014-2015 school year.14
(10) Provide for the consideration of any other item or requirement that15
may be necessary to establish an international language immersion school.16
C. Seven members of the committee shall constitute a quorum and all17
official action of the committee shall require the favorable vote of a majority of18
those members present and voting. All members of the committee, including ex19
officio members, shall be voting members.20
D. Members of the committee shall serve until such time as the school is21
established and begins operation.22
E. Members of the committee shall serve without compensation.23
§1970.33. Report24
The committee shall submit a written report and implementation plan25
for the establishment of an international language immersion school to the26
Senate Committee on Education and House Committee on Education not later27
than March 31, 2013.28
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not29 SB NO. 712
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signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature1
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If2
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become3
effective on the day following such approval.4
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Sherri H. Breaux.
DIGEST
LaFleur (SB 712)
Proposed law creates and provides for an exploratory committee to develop a plan regarding
the establishment of an international language immersion school at the University of
Louisiana at Lafayette. Provides for the committee 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.
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 SB NO. 712
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
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. Determine the feasibility of opening the school by the beginning of the 2014-2015
school year.
10.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. 17:1970.31-1970.33)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill
1. Deletes provisions which would have established the international language
immersion school in law.
2. Provides for the exploratory committee to determine the feasibility of
opening an international school at the University of La. at Lafayette by the
beginning of the 2014-2015 school year.