85R11286 TJB-D
By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 4157
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to simultaneous translation from English to Spanish of
certain hearings and meetings held by a committee of the
legislature, the governing body of a municipality, or the
commissioners court of a county.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 301.035 to read as follows:
Sec. 301.035. SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION OF COMMITTEE
HEARING. The chair of a committee of the legislature must provide
professional simultaneous translation from English to Spanish of a
public hearing of the committee if a person requests the
translation in writing to the chair not later than the third day
before the date of the hearing.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 51, Local Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 51.004 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.004. SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION OF PUBLIC MEETING OF
GOVERNING BODY. The governing body of a municipality must provide
professional simultaneous translation from English to Spanish of a
public meeting of the governing body if a person requests the
translation in writing to the municipal secretary or clerk not
later than the third day before the date of the meeting.
SECTION 3. Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Local Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 81.031 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.031. SIMULTANEOUS TRANSLATION OF MEETING OF
COMMISSIONERS COURT. A commissioners court must provide
professional simultaneous translation from English to Spanish of a
public meeting of the commissioners court if a person requests the
translation in writing to the county clerk not later than the third
day before the date of the meeting.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.