C.S.H.B. 2898 78 )    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 2898
By: Phillips
County Affairs
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Governmental entities are required by law in a variety of circumstances to
publish notice in certain newspapers.   2051.044 outlines the requirements
of a newspaper in which a notice may be published.  In some rural
counties, there may be no newspaper that meets these requirements.  In
other counties, these restrictions may force governmental entities to
publish notice in newspapers that are not necessarily the most likely
medium to serve notice to the greatest number of citizens.    
House Bill 2898 allows a governmental entity publishing notice in certain
counties more flexibility in choosing a newspaper that is most likely to
reach the greatest number of citizens within that county.   


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS
SECTION 1.  States that  2051.044, Government Code does not apply to
notices to which  2051.0441 apply.   

SECTION 2.  Adds  2051.0441, Government Code.  Applies only to notices
published in counties with a population of at least 30,000 and no more
than 36,000 that borders the Red River.  Outlines requirements for a
newspaper in which a notice may be published in these counties.   

SECTION 3.  Effective date.  

EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect on September 1, 2003. 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute provides in Section 2 of CSHB 2898 applies only to notices
published in counties with a population of at least 30,000 and no more
than 36,000 that borders the Red River.  The substitute adds that a
newspaper can qualify for publication if, in addition to meeting the other
requirements in  2051.0441, the newspaper is mailed or delivered to at
least 51% of the residences in the county where published.