The original instrument was prepared by Thomas L. Tyler. The following digest,
which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by
Ashley Menou.
DIGEST
Martiny (SB 630)
Present law (R.S. 43:142) provides certain qualifications for a newspaper in order to be selected
as an official journal of a parish, municipality, or school board including a requirement that the
paper have an office physically located in the parish and have maintained a general paid
circulation for five consecutive years.
Present law provides that present law does not prohibit a publication from becoming an official
journal in Jefferson Parish when the publication has actually published official proceedings
within one year prior to June 1, 1986, of any municipal corporation, parish council, police jury,
or school board within Jefferson Parish. Proposed law retains these provisions but provides that
present law also does not prohibit a publication from being the official journal in Jefferson Parish
when it is qualified to publish judicial advertisements and legal notices in Jefferson Parish or
Orleans Parish.
Present law (R.S. 43:171) provides certain qualifications relative to selection of a newspaper as
the official journal of levee, drainage, subdrainage, road, subroad, navigation, sewerage districts
or by other political subdivisions including requirements that the paper have an office physically
located in the parish and have maintained a general paid circulation for five consecutive years.
Proposed law provides that the five-year requirements and nothing in present law shall prohibit a
publication from becoming an official journal in Jefferson Parish or Orleans Parish if it is
qualified to publish judicial advertisements and legal notices in Jefferson Parish or Orleans
Parish.
Present law (R.S. 43:200) provides in order to publish judicial advertisements and legal notices, a
newspaper is to satisfy certain requirements during each year of the five-year period prior to the
first publication of any advertisement or notice, including publication at regular intervals not less
than weekly and a general paid circulation.
Proposed laws retains these provisions, but provides that in Jefferson Parish, a daily newspaper
with a general paid circulation may be selected to publish judicial advertisements and legal
notices if the newspaper has maintained a public business office in Orleans Parish for eight
consecutive months prior to January 1, 2014.
Proposed law provides that, for purposes of qualifications for publishing official proceedings,
legal notices, or advertisements in the parishes of Jefferson or Orleans, the five year requirement
shall not apply to a daily newspaper with a general paid circulation if the newspaper has
maintained a public business office in Orleans Parish for eight consecutive months prior to January 1, 2014.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 43:142(B), 171(B), 200(3), and 201(D); adds R.S. 43:202(D); repeals R.S.
43:201(E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental
Affairs to the original bill
1. Provides that, for purposes of qualifications for publishing official proceedings,
legal notices, or advertisements in the parishes of Jefferson or Orleans, the five
year requirement shall not apply to a daily newspaper with a general paid
circulation if the newspaper has maintained a public business office in Orleans
Parish for eight consecutive months prior to January 1, 2014.