By: Phillips (Senate Sponsor - Seliger) H.B. No. 1812

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 28, 2011; May 4, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental Relations; May 19, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 19, 2011, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the type of newspaper required for publication of notice in certain counties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 2051.0441(a) and (b), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) This section applies only to a notice published by a governmental entity or representative in a county:

(1) with a population of at least 30,000 and not more than 36,000 that borders the Red River; or

(2) that does not have a newspaper described by Section 2051.044 published in the county [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 periodical [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.

SECTION 2. 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, 2011.

* * * * *