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

Sponsors: Representatives McDermott and Nixon; by request of Secretary of State.

Hearing Date: 2/3/04

Staff: Matt Kuehn (786-7291).

Background:

Radio or television may be used as a forum of legal notice publication if a state or local official finds that a public interest would be served by doing so. This form of publication is supplementary to the traditional method of legal publication, namely newspapers.

Legal notices broadcast on television or radio are required to be only read or shown. They can contain the time, place and nature of the notice. They may not reference by name any person who is a candidate for political office at the time of the notice. They must also be made only by the personnel of the radio or television station which broadcasts the signal.

Radio or television publication requires an affidavit from the station manager, assistant manager, or program director to establish that the notice was made.

Summary of Bill:

The bill removes the requirement that only employed personnel of the radio or television station make the legal notice broadcast.

Affidavits that the notice was made are not required. Written proof of publication of the notice, made by the station, is sufficient to prove that notice was given.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.