Brief Description: Conforming legal notice broadcast requirements to current practice.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Judiciary (originally sponsored by Senator Marr).

Senate Committee on Judiciary
House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Background: Radio or television may be used as a form of legal notice publication if a state or local official finds that the public interest would be served. Broadcasts of legal notices may only be made by personnel of the radio or television station. This form of publication is supplementary to legal publication in newspapers.

Any radio or television station broadcasting a legal notice must provide proof of publication, in the form of an affidavit, by the station's manager, assistant manager, or program director. The station must keep a copy of the text of the notice for public inspection for six months from the time of the broadcast.

Summary: Notices by political subdivisions may be made only by stations whose signal is received within the county of origin of the legal notice. It is no longer required that only radio or television personnel make the broadcast of legal notices. Written proof, provided by the radio or television station broadcasting the notice, that legal notice was given is sufficient. Affidavits are no longer required.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      44   0
House      96   1

Effective:   July 22, 2007