HB290 Alabama 2012 Session

Under existing law, legal notices required by any law, mortgage, or other contract are generally required to be published in a newspaper

This bill would require newspapers accepting legal notices, in addition to publishing the legal notice in print, to publish the legal notice on an Internet website if the newspaper maintains an Internet website, as well as on a statewide website maintained by an entity having the access and ability to upload notices from newspapers in this state

This bill would provide that the publication on the Internet websites would be at no charge to the government or the party requesting the publication of the legal notice

This bill would protect the validity of legal notices if the failure for the notice to be posted on the website is attributed to the fault of the newspaper, Internet provider, or the Secretary of State

This bill would also provide that the rate charged for publication of a public notice shall not exceed the lowest classified rate paid by commercial customers for comparable advertisements in the same newspaper in which the notice appears

Relating to the publication of legal notices; to amend Sections 6-8-60, 6-8-62, 6-8-64, and 6-8-65, Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the electronic publication of legal notices; to require newspapers maintaining Internet websites to publish legal notices on the website in addition to publication in print in a newspaper; to require the publication of legal notices on a statewide Internet website; to specify that legal notices shall remain valid if the failure to publish was attributed to the fault of the newspaper, Internet provider, or entity hosting the statewide website; to prohibit newspapers from charging additional fees for the electronic publication of legal notices; and to further provide for the rate charged for publication of a public notice.