SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6149

                            AS OF JANUARY 29, 1992

Brief Description:  Requiring newspapers to print death and funeral notices without charge.

SPONSORS: Senators Moore, Talmadge and Skratek

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Staff:  Barbara Howard (786‑7410)

Hearing Dates: January 30, 1992

BACKGROUND:

A number of larger newspapers no longer publish detailed death notices without charge.  It has been suggested that the practice should be reinstated.

SUMMARY:

A daily or weekly newspaper which qualifies as a "legal" newspaper must print a death or funeral notice without charge if the deceased was a Washington resident, and if the notice is submitted by an immediate family member or other interested party within one month of the death.

The notice may not exceed 180 words and must contain the following information: name of the deceased, age and place of death, nature of illness (if revealed), place of birth, formal education, any professional or civic affiliations, church membership, details of funeral service, names of surviving family members, funeral home, and where donations or remembrances may be made.

The editor of a newspaper violating these provisions is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.  If a newspaper is found in a civil action to have violated these requirements, the newspaper forfeits its exemption from the sales tax for one year.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested