UPA’s biggest legislative challenge as the year ends is to get the word out about the new legal notices Web site, utahlegals.com. UPA has contacted the Utah Municipal Clerks Association, Utah Treasurers Association and county clerks group, and will distribute information through these groups. The Municipal Clerks have invited UPA to train clerks about the legalnotices site at their conference this spring. UPA has also contacted the Public Meeting Notice Web site operators and asked if we can distribute details to those who use that Web site.

Michael Fox will be forwarding a press release, house ad and a notice to be sent to local governments to all newspapers. We ask all papers to send the information to all current government clients that place legal notices and ask that you run the house advertisement.

In addition, we ask publishers to invite local legislators to view and explain the system. Here are some talking points:

During the 2009 Legislative Session, Utah lawmakers passed SB208 (Third Substitute) which requires Utah newspapers to create a central and searchable online depository of legal notices on a Web site. The Utah Press Association is fulfilling its commitment and UtahLegals.com is now open to view. The site provides the following features:

--Browse functions

--Keyword search

--Search by date

--Search by newspaper

--RSS feeds by newspaper

--E-mail alert function based on keyword

Under the statute:

-- Between Jan. 1, 2010 and Jan. 1, 2012: All notices that are now required to be published in a newspaper still must continue in a “newspaper of general circulation.” The notices will also be published online by the Utah Press Association. Newspapers may continue to charge for the printed legal notice, but cannot charge for the Web notice, which will provided as a service by Utah newspapers. For all intents and purposes this is the status quo that UPA has been operating under for several years except that newspapers are now mandated (and have agreed) to post all legal notices online.

-- After Jan. 1, 2012, government entities in Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah and Washington counties may choose to publish the notice in the newspaper. Entities will be able to place and purchase the ad directly through the online Web site. After Jan. 1, 2012, government entities in counties of 3rd to 6th class will still be required to publish in BOTH the printed newspaper and online after Jan. 1, 2012. This basically maintains the status quo in these counties.

-- Along with the traditional placement through newspapers, individuals may be able to place legal notices through the online system, expected to be functional by January 2010. The online system will require users to select a local newspaper of general circulation for publication and then pay the legal notice rate for that publication.

-- This bill did not affect public meeting notices. Government entities will still be required to post public meeting notices on the State Public Meeting Notice Web Site http://www.utah.gov/pmn and notify newspapers of public meetings by e-mail through the online subscription system.

In addition to getting the word out, Michael J. Fox and John Sloan have been building an online interface that will allow individual users the opportunity to select and purchase a legal notice through the Web site. Please make sure that you have given Michael your legal notice rates so this can be completed.

Truth-in-taxation notices

This is a reminder that UPA made the commitment to post online all truth-in-taxation notices. This will require an additional step beyond what is required for legal notices. Newspaper staff will need to convert display truth-in-taxation ads into text files that can be uploaded at utahlegals.com. If you have questions please call Joel Campbell at 801-362-4298.

Other legislative issues

The Legislature opens Jan. 25. Legislators have opened several bill files.

Sales and use tax

Several bills have been filed under the topic of sales and use tax. UPA will be researching these bills in the coming weeks.

GRAMA bill

Rep. Kraig Powell, R-Heber City, is considering a bill that would close salary information under GRAMA. In a letter to board member Laurie Wynn he said that he was drafting the bill at the request of a county employee who was concerned about privacy issues and how public salary information affects morale. Rep. Chris Herrod and Rep. John Dougall have also opened bill files on GRAMA. Rep. Dougall’s bill makes technical corrections that attorney Jeff Hunt says does not raise any issues. UPA still needs to talk to Herrod about his bill.

Joel Campbell can be reached at foiguy@gmail.com