PRINTER'S NO. 1406
No. 1021 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY WONDERLING, ERICKSON, FERLO AND RAFFERTY, FEBRUARY 11, 2004
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 11, 2004
AN ACT 1 Amending Title 45 (Legal Notices) of the Pennsylvania 2 Consolidated Statutes, adding a definition of "community 3 paper of mass dissemination"; and further providing for legal 4 advertising. 5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 6 hereby enacts as follows: 7 Section 1. Section 101(a) of Title 45 of the Pennsylvania 8 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read: 9 § 101. Definitions. 10 (a) Definitions applicable to printing or newspaper 11 advertising laws.--Subject to additional definitions contained 12 in subsequent provisions of this title which are applicable to 13 specific provisions of this title, the following words and 14 phrases when used in: 15 (1) this title; or 16 (2) any other law relating to printing or newspaper 17 advertising; 18 shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the
1 meanings given to them in this subsection: 2 * * * 3 "Community paper of mass dissemination." 4 (1) A printed paper or publication, bearing a title or 5 name, and conveying reading or pictorial intelligence of 6 passing events, local or general happenings, printing 7 regularly or irregularly editorial comment, announcements, 8 miscellaneous reading matter, commercial advertising, 9 classified advertising, legal advertising and other notices, 10 and which has been issued in numbers of four or more pages at 11 short intervals, either daily, twice or oftener each week, or 12 weekly, continuously during a period of at least six months, 13 or as the successor of such a printed paper or publication 14 issued during an immediate prior period of at least six 15 months, and which has been circulated and distributed from an 16 established place of business to the community at large. 17 (2) For purposes of this definition, continuous 18 publication shall not be deemed interrupted by any 19 involuntary suspension of publication resulting from loss, 20 destruction, failure or unavailability of operating 21 facilities, equipment or personnel from whatever cause, and 22 any community paper of mass distribution so affected shall 23 not be disqualified to publish official and legal advertising 24 in the event that publication is resumed within one week 25 after it again becomes possible. 26 (3) A community paper of mass dissemination must do one 27 of the following: 28 (i) Distribute through the United States mail to 29 entire local zip codes. 30 (ii) Distribute by audited carriers to all known 20040S1021B1406 - 2 -
1 addresses within local community boundaries. 2 * * * 3 Section 2. Title 45 is amended by adding a section to read: 4 § 311. Use of community papers of mass dissemination. 5 Any government unit may, at its discretion, authorize 6 publication in a community paper of mass dissemination in 7 substitution of publication in a newspaper. 8 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days. L11L45MSP/20040S1021B1406 - 3 -