| 1 | 1 | | 85R6198 MTB-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Canales H.B. No. 2678 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to a study on the creation of bilingual zones in certain |
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| 8 | 8 | | areas of this state. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. (a) In this Act, "bilingual zone" means a |
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| 11 | 11 | | designated area of this state in which: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (1) English and Spanish are both official languages; |
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| 13 | 13 | | (2) residents have the right to receive services from |
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| 14 | 14 | | state and local governmental entities in both official languages; |
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| 15 | 15 | | (3) residents may be heard before the state court |
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| 16 | 16 | | system in the official language of their choice; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (4) state and local laws are published in both |
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| 18 | 18 | | official languages and given equal legal weight; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | (5) both official languages have equal status in state |
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| 20 | 20 | | and local governmental employment. |
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| 21 | 21 | | (b) The comptroller of public accounts, in cooperation with |
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| 22 | 22 | | the secretary of state, the B3 Institute at The University of Texas |
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| 23 | 23 | | Rio Grande Valley, and other interested parties, shall conduct a |
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| 24 | 24 | | study to evaluate the creation of bilingual zones in certain areas |
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| 25 | 25 | | of this state. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (c) In conducting the study, the comptroller shall: |
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| 27 | 27 | | (1) identify and evaluate areas of this state along |
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| 28 | 28 | | the border with the United Mexican States that may be designated |
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| 29 | 29 | | bilingual zones; |
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| 30 | 30 | | (2) assess the impact the creation and operation of |
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| 31 | 31 | | bilingual zones would have on this state's economy; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | (3) evaluate the effect the creation and operation of |
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| 33 | 33 | | bilingual zones would have on border and international relations. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (d) Not later than September 1, 2018, the comptroller shall |
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| 35 | 35 | | prepare and submit to the legislature a written report containing |
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| 36 | 36 | | the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or |
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| 37 | 37 | | other action. |
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| 38 | 38 | | (e) This Act expires September 1, 2019. |
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| 39 | 39 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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