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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 712
BY SENATORS LAFLEUR, ALLAIN, CORTEZ, GUILLORY, JOHNS, MILLS,
MORRISH AND PERRY AND REPRESENTATI VES ARMES,
BARRAS, BERTHELOT, STUART BISHOP, CHAMPAGNE,
DANAHAY, EDWARDS, GISCLAIR, GUI LLORY, GUINN,
HARRISON, HAZEL, HENSGENS, HUVAL, JOHNSON, JONES,
NANCY LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY, LEBAS, MONTOUCET,
ORTEGO, PIERRE, PRI CE, RICHARD, ROBIDEAUX, ST.
GERMAIN, THIBAUT, THIERRY, WHITNEY AND WILLMOTT
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
B. The legislature finds that the development of a world language skills18
program and cultural expertise are crucial in addressing the economic19
challenges facing the state and nation in the global marketplace. Professions20
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including but not limited to law, health care, education, tourism, hospitality,1
agriculture, and oil and gas all require an international dimension that reflects2
the ever-changing world environment and Louisiana's increasingly diverse3
population.4
C. The legislature recognizes that sustained, intensive, continuous5
sequences of second language study results in the following benefits:6
(1) Increases awareness of and appreciation for other cultures and7
people.8
(2) Develops a high proficiency in a second or third target language other9
than English.10
(3) Enhances problem-solving capabilities.11
(4) Improves memory and listening skills, and has a positive effect on12
intellectual growth.13
(5) Enhances understanding of an individual's primary language.14
(6) Better prepares students for the twenty-first century job market.15
(7) Preserves the heritage language of Acadians and the related economic16
value of the Cajun Creole culture in Louisiana.17
§1970.32. International school in Lafayette; exploratory committee; creation;18
membership; terms; duties and functions; voting; compensation19
A. There is hereby created an exploratory committee, hereinafter20
referred to as "committee", to develop a plan regarding the creation and21
establishment of an international language immersion school at the University22
of Louisiana at Lafayette. The membership of the committee shall be as follows:23
(1) The executive director of the Cecil J. Picard Center for Child24
Development and Lifelong Learning, or his designee.25
(2) The executive director of Le Centre International De Lafayette, or his26
designee.27
(3) One member to represent the French Consulate, appointed by the28
Consulate General of France in New Orleans, who shall serve as an ex officio29
member.30 SB NO. 712 ENROLLED
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(4) Two members of the Council for the Development of French in1
Louisiana, appointed by the chairman thereof.2
(5) The city-parish president of Lafayette Parish, or his designee.3
(6) The superintendent of schools for the Lafayette Parish School System,4
or his designee.5
(7) One member to represent the Greater Lafayette Chamber of6
Commerce, appointed by the president of the chamber.7
(8) One member of the Senate whose district is located in Lafayette8
Parish.9
(9) Two members of the House of Representatives whose districts are10
located in Lafayette Parish.11
(10) A member of the Senate who is a member of the Acadiana12
delegation and whose district does not include Lafayette Parish, appointed by13
the president of the Senate.14
(11) A member of the House of Representatives who is a member of the15
Acadiana delegation and whose district does not include Lafayette Parish,16
appointed by the speaker of the House.17
(12) The state superintendent of education, or his designee.18
(13) The president of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or his19
designee.20
(14) The president of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority,21
or his designee.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
(3) Provide for the collaboration and partnership with similarly designed30 SB NO. 712 ENROLLED
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schools.1
(4) Determine the curriculum to be offered at the school, including2
French as the primary immersion language and consider the addition of other3
languages to the curriculum, including but not limited to Spanish and Mandarin4
Chinese.5
(5) Establish criteria to be used in determining eligibility of students for6
enrollment.7
(6) Determine the number of students to be served by the school.8
(7) Determine the number and type of faculty and staff positions9
necessary for the efficient operation of the school.10
(8) Determine the budget necessary for the operation of the school.11
(9) Determine the feasibility of opening the school by the beginning of the12
2014-2015 school year.13
(10) Provide for the consideration of any other item or requirement that14
may be necessary to establish an international language immersion school.15
C. Nine members of the committee shall constitute a quorum and all16
official action of the committee shall require the favorable vote of a majority of17
those members present and voting. All members of the committee, including ex18
officio members, shall be voting members.19
D. Members of the committee shall serve until such time as the school is20
established and begins operation.21
E. Members of the committee shall serve without compensation.22
§1970.33. Report23
The committee shall submit a written report and implementation plan24
for the establishment of an international language immersion school to the25
Senate Committee on Education and House Committee on Education not later26
than March 31, 2013.27
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not28
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature29
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If30 SB NO. 712 ENROLLED
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vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become1
effective on the day following such approval.2
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: