Public Notice Resource Center www. pnrc.net (703) 237-9806

Recent Headlines • Bill would reduce public notice for foreclosures • Legal notice legislation again rears its ugly head • Lafayette vote to decide printed legal notice

The 3-legged stool of accountability Public Records Public Notices Public Meetings

Elements of Public Notice • Independent • Archivable • Accessible • Verifiable

Trying to Redefine Public Notice • States trying to replace public notice in newspapers with posting on state government Internet sites • Federal agencies trying to replace public notice in newspapers with posting on government Internet sites • Some businesses trying to replace public notice in newspapers with Internet site postings or eliminate public notice altogether (Mortgage foreclosures, storage facilities)

Publishing Public Notice: Newspaper Print v. Website • Reliable • Archivable (Permanent) • Unchangeable (Authentic)

Websites: No Guarantee of Continuous Publication

Not Just Government Websites

Other Access Problems • Pew Research Center, “Americans and their cell phones” August 2011 found 20% frustrated with download time and 16% had difficulty reading things on their phone • Please note that even public notice accessed by mobile phones presents problems because there are archive, access, and verify issues

Websites: Not Permanent L.A. Times, June 15, 2011 “Federal government to delete half its websites”

Websites: Not Long-term THE WASHINGTON POST, JULY 17, 2011 “Old Dominion U. professor is trying to save Internet history”

Readership: Newspapers v. Government Sites • Newspapers are circulated • Newspapers have paid subscribers • Newspapers carry current news

Government Sites • Pew Research Center, “Government Online” April 2010 found that 52% of Internet users have NOT looked at state or federal government Internet sites for policies issues (Survey did not distinguish between government employees and the public) • George Washington University ,“Citizen Use of Digital Media to Connect with Government Yields a Mixed Picture” 27 October 2010 found 35% never used government Internet site for information

Surveys • Kentucky 84 % of Kentucky adults read a daily, Sunday or weekly newspaper during an average week • Wisconsin 78% of residents believe state and local governments should publish public notices in newspapers • NNA Community newspapers continue to show strong readership, community reliance

Sample Legislative Trends • Tennessee HB1920/SB1299 (Dead) Reduced foreclosure notice in newspaper from three to one • Florida HB 459 (Dead) Eliminated self service storage operator’s responsibility to publish auction announcements in newspapers

Continued… • Ohio (budget bill) • Utah SB 85 (Passed) Redefines newspaper of general circulation No longer requires newspapers of opposite politics to publish identical public notices • Utah SB 85 (Passed) Rolled back a public notice law enacted two years ago that removed mandatory public notice from newspapers in Utah’s urban counties after 2012 and allowed notices to be posted on websites

Keeping Public Notice In Print • Know Your Legislators • Attend Legislative Hearings • Provide Great Customer Service (Including publishing newspaper on-line and print)

Print and Internet Notice

PNRC’s Role • Develop Educational Information on Public Notice • Provide Vital Legislative and Regulatory Analysis • Develop Educational Information on Public Notice • Monitor Various Industries for Potential Public Notice Issues

Continued…… • Of Record (newsletter that outlines the latest public notice developments) • Internet site dedicated to information on public notice (www.pnrc.net) • Presentations that contain the latest news and developments

A Sample of PNRC’s Summer Accomplishments • Letter to DHHS on Medicaid Notices • Letter to DOJ on Forfeiture Notices • Public Notice Talking Points

Your Resource for Information on Public Notice www.pnrc.net

Latest Developments

Conclusion David Placher PNRC P.O. Box 5337 Arlington, VA 22205 (703) 237-9806 www.pnrc.net