78R12048 ATP-D


By:  Phillips, Homer                                              H.B. No. 2898

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2898:                                   

By:  Casteel                                                  C.S.H.B. No. 2898



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the publication of notice in a newspaper in certain 
counties.   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 2051.044, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  This section does not apply to the publication of a 
notice to which Section 2051.0441 applies.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 2051, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 2051.0441 to read as follows:
	Sec. 2051.0441.  TYPE OF NEWSPAPER REQUIRED FOR PUBLICATION 
IN CERTAIN COUNTIES.  (a)  This section applies only to a notice 
published in a county with a population of at least 30,000 and not 
more than 36,000 that borders the Red River by a governmental entity 
or representative.
	(b)  The newspaper in which a notice is published under this 
section must:
		(1)  devote not less than 20 percent of its total column 
lineage to general interest items;
		(2)  be published at least once each week;                             
		(3)  be entered as second-class postal matter in the 
county where published or have a mailed or delivered circulation of 
at least 51 percent of the residences in the county where published;  
and
		(4)  have been published regularly and continuously for 
at least 12 months before the governmental entity or representative 
publishes notice.
	(c)  A weekly newspaper has been published regularly and 
continuously under Subsection (b) if the newspaper omits not more 
than two issues in the 12-month period.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.