DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 328 Original 2015 Regular Session St. Germain
Abstract: Authorizes the village of Grosse Tete to select, as the official journal of the village, a
newspaper that is published in a parish adjoining Iberville Parish.
Present law establishes criteria that a newspaper must meet in order to be eligible to be selected as
the official journal of a political subdivision.
Present law defines "newspaper" for purposes of such laws as a publication that during each year of
the five-year period prior to its selection meets all of the following criteria:
(a)Has been published at regular intervals of not less than weekly.
(b)Originated and was published for the purpose of delivering news of general public
interest and is not devoted to the interests or entertainment of any one particular
group or class.
(c)In more than half of its issues, contained less than 75% advertising.
(d)Maintained a general paid circulation to paying subscribers within the publication
area required.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law requires that only a newspaper that meets the following criteria may be selected as an
official journal by a political subdivision:
(1)Must have been published in an office physically located in the political subdivision for at
least five years prior to its selection.
(2)During that five-year period, may not have missed three or more consecutive issues unless
caused by fire, flood, strike, or natural disaster.
(3)Must have maintained a general paid circulation in the political subdivision for five
consecutive years prior to the selection.
(4)Must have possessed a valid periodical permit from the U.S. Postal Service for a period of
five consecutive years prior to selection. Present law provides exceptions to these requirements for the parishes of Jefferson and Orleans.
Proposed law retains present law and adds an additional exception for the village of Grosse Tete.
Requires that the newspaper be published in an office physically located in Iberville Parish or in a
parish adjoining Iberville Parish for a period of five years preceding the selection. Requires that the
newspaper meet the present law definition of "newspaper" and all other provisions of present law.
Present law requires each municipality to select an official journal published in an office physically
located within the municipal boundaries if a newspaper as defined in present law is published
therein. Further requires municipalities to select a newspaper published in the parish in which the
municipality is located if no qualified newspaper is published within the municipal boundaries.
Proposed law retains present law but provides an exception for the village of Grosse Tete. Requires
the village, notwithstanding present law, to select an official journal that has been published in an
office physically located in Iberville Parish or in an adjoining parish during each year of the five-year
period prior to the first publication of any legal or official notice for the village of Grosse Tete.
(Amends R.S. 43:142(A)(1); Adds R.S. 43:146.1)