Bill Text: CA AB1902 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Publication: newspaper of general circulation: Internet

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-04-18 - In committee: Set first hearing. Failed passage. Reconsideration granted. [AB1902 Detail]

Download: California-2011-AB1902-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 1902	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jones

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2012

   An act to add Section 6009 to the Government Code, relating to
official advertising.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1902, as introduced, Jones. Publication: newspaper of general
circulation: Internet Web site.
   Existing law requires that various types of notices are provided
in a newspaper of general circulation. Existing law requires a
newspaper of general circulation to meet certain criteria, including,
among others, that it be published and have a substantial
distribution to paid subscribers in the city, district, or judicial
district in which it is seeking adjudication.
   This bill would provide that a newspaper that is available on an
Internet Web site may also qualify as a newspaper of general
circulation, provided that newspaper meets certain criteria.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 6009 is added to the Government Code, to read:
   6009.  (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a newspaper that is
available on an Internet Web site is a "newspaper of general
circulation" if it meets the following criteria:
   (1) It provides local, national, or international news and
intelligence of a general character on its Internet Web site.
   (2) It has been established and updated at regular intervals of
not less than weekly for at least three years prior to the date of
adjudication.
   (3) It has a substantial regular readership in the city, district,
or judicial district in which the newspaper is seeking adjudication
pursuant to subdivision (b).
   (4) It has a bona fide list of subscribers that reside in the
city, district, or judicial district in which the newspaper is
seeking adjudication pursuant to subdivision (b).
   (5) It has maintained a minimum coverage of local, national, or
international news and intelligence of a general character on at
least 25 percent of the space available on the homepage of the
Internet Web site of the newspaper.
   (6) It provides a link to public notices published in the
newspaper on the homepage of the Internet Web site of the newspaper
that is readily accessible to any person visiting that Internet Web
site.
   (b) For the purposes of Section 6020, a newspaper meeting the
criteria of this section that desires to have its standing as a
newspaper of general circulation ascertained and established, may, by
its publisher, manager, editor, or attorney, file a verified
petition in the superior court of the county in which it is
established.
   (c) For purposes of this section, "established" means in existence
under a specified name during the whole three-year period, provided
that a modification of name in accordance with Section 6024, which
does not substantially change the identity of the newspaper, shall
not affect the status of the newspaper for the purposes of this
definition.