Pa. House advances Web legal notice bill

From staff and wire reports

HARRISBURG — A bill that would let Pennsylvania municipalities and school boards post their legal notices online — cutting millions in fees that are currently paid to newspapers — is on its way to the House floor.

The House Judiciary Committee voted 18-6 Tuesday in favor of the measure sponsored by Rep. Tom Creighton, a Lancaster County Republican.

The committee also defeated an amendment that would have maintained the current system but required newspapers to give governments their lowest rate for such ads.

Supporters say municipalities and school boards currently spend about $26 million a year on legal ads.

Opponents argue that the public knows where to find the ads now and that not everyone has access to the Internet.

A similar bill is in the Senate Appropriations Committee, led by state Sen. Jake Corman, RBenner Township, but Corman said Tuesday that his initial supportive attitude toward the measure has shifted after being exposed to views of newspaper editors and others concerned about public access to information.

“Even though I did co-sponsor it, I am not committed at this point to vote for it,” Corman said.

Corman said he has no plans to act on the bill until after the budget is resolved, and probably not until the fall.

“I haven’t focused on it because we’re so focused on the budget,” he added. “Certainly I understand the issues but haven’t explored all the issues of how the public is being informed.”

CDT staff writer Mike Joseph contributed to this report.