81R1401 EAH-D
By: Chavez H.B. No. 4074
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the requirement that governmental public notices be
published in Spanish-language newspapers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 5, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 561 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 561. PUBLICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICES IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE
NEWSPAPER
Sec. 561.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Public notice" means any notice that must be
published in a newspaper under Chapter 4, Election Code, or other
law by:
(A) a state agency or a state officer or
employee; or
(B) a political subdivision of this state or an
officer or employee of a political subdivision.
(2) "Spanish-language newspaper" means a newspaper
that is printed in Spanish.
Sec. 561.002. PUBLICATION IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER BY
STATE AGENCY OR OFFICER. A state agency or a state officer or
employee with responsibility for publishing a public notice shall
publish the notice in Spanish in a Spanish-language newspaper of
general circulation in each county in which:
(1) the agency, officer, or employee is required to
publish the public notice;
(2) more than 50 percent of the population is of
Hispanic origin; and
(3) there is a Spanish-language newspaper of general
circulation.
Sec. 561.003. PUBLICATION IN SPANISH-LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER BY
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION. (a) This section applies only to:
(1) a political subdivision, other than a county, any
portion of which is located in a county in which more than 50
percent of the population is of Hispanic origin; or
(2) a county in which more than 50 percent of the
population is of Hispanic origin.
(b) A political subdivision or an officer or employee of a
political subdivision with responsibility for publishing a public
notice shall publish the notice in Spanish in a Spanish-language
newspaper of general circulation in each county in which:
(1) the political subdivision is located; and
(2) there is a Spanish-language newspaper of general
circulation.
Sec. 561.004. NOTICE IN ADDITION TO NOTICE REQUIRED UNDER
OTHER LAW. Notice published under this chapter is in addition to
notice required by other law.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.