2nd Engrossment - 83rd Legislature (2003 - 2004) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to official publications; changing provisions 1.3 for publication of public notices in newspapers; 1.4 requiring a report; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, 1.5 sections 279.09; 279.092; 331A.01, subdivisions 2, 3, 1.6 6, 9, 10; 331A.02, subdivisions 1, 3, 4, by adding a 1.7 subdivision; 331A.03, subdivision 1, by adding a 1.8 subdivision; 331A.04, as amended; 331A.05, 1.9 subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 7, by adding a subdivision; 1.10 331A.06, subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; 1.11 331A.07; 331A.08, by adding a subdivision; 331A.09; 1.12 331A.10, subdivision 1; 331A.11, subdivisions 1, 2; 1.13 375.12, subdivision 2; 375.17, subdivision 1; 412.191, 1.14 subdivision 3; 471.698, subdivision 1; repealing 1.15 Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 331A.01, subdivision 1.16 5; 331A.02, subdivision 2. 1.17 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.18 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 279.09, is 1.19 amended to read: 1.20 279.09 [PUBLICATION OF NOTICE AND LIST.] 1.21 The countyauditorshall cause the notice and list of 1.22 delinquent real property to be published once in each of two 1.23consecutiveweeks in the newspaper designated, the first 1.24 publication of which shall be made on or before March 20 1.25 immediately following the filing of such list with the court 1.26 administrator of the district court, and the second not less 1.27 than two weeks later. Theauditorcounty shall deliversuch1.28 the list to thepublisher of thenewspaper designated,at least 1.2920ten days before the date upon which the listshallis to be 1.30 published for the first time. Not less than five days before 1.31 the second publication, the county shall submit a revised list 2.1 to the newspaper. A taxpayer who has paid delinquent taxes 2.2 since the first publication must be removed by the county from 2.3 the second publication. 2.4 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 279.092, is 2.5 amended to read: 2.6 279.092 [PUBLICATION AND RELATED COSTS.] 2.7 The countyauditorshall assess a service fee of the 2.8greater of (a) $10.00, or (b) theamount determined by the 2.9 county board as reasonably necessary to recover all costs 2.10 incurred, against each parcel included in the delinquent tax 2.11 list filed pursuant to section 279.05. The unpaid fees shall 2.12 constitute a lien against the property in the manner provided in 2.13 section 272.31 for unpaid taxes. When the fee is collected, the 2.14 general revenue fund of the county shall be credited to defray 2.15 costs incurred by the county auditor and the court administrator 2.16 of district court to prepare and publish the delinquent tax list 2.17 and to enter judgment if no answer is filed. 2.18 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.01, 2.19 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 2.20 Subd. 2. [KNOWN OFFICE OF ISSUE.] "Known office of issue" 2.21 means the newspaper's principal officemaintained by the2.22publisher or managing officer during a newspaper's regular2.23business hours to gather news and sell advertisements and2.24subscriptions, whether or not printing or any other operations2.25of the newspaper are conducted at or from the office, and2.26devoted primarily to business related to the newspaperdevoted 2.27 primarily to business related to the newspaper, whether or not 2.28 printing or any other operations of the newspaper are conducted 2.29 at or from the office. A newspaper may have only one known 2.30 office of issue. 2.31 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.01, 2.32 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 2.33 Subd. 3. [LOCAL PUBLIC CORPORATIONPOLITICAL SUBDIVISION.] 2.34"Local public corporation""Political subdivision" means a 2.35 county, municipality, school district, or any other local 2.36 political subdivision or local or area district, commission, 3.1 board, or authority. 3.2 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.01, 3.3 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 3.4 Subd. 6. [PROCEEDINGS.] "Proceedings" means the substance 3.5 of all official actions taken by the governing body of alocal3.6public corporationpolitical subdivision at any regular or 3.7 special meeting, and at minimum includes the subject matter of a 3.8 motion, the persons making and seconding a motion, the roll call 3.9 vote on a motion, the character of resolutions or ordinances 3.10 offered, including a brief description of their subject matter, 3.11 and whether defeated or adopted. 3.12 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.01, 3.13 subdivision 9, is amended to read: 3.14 Subd. 9. [SECONDARY OFFICE.] "Secondary office" means an 3.15 office established by a newspaper in a community other than that 3.16 in which its known office of issue is located, in the same or an 3.17 adjoining county,to enhance its coverage of and service to that3.18community,open on a regular basis to gather news and sell 3.19 advertisements and subscriptions, whether or not printing or any 3.20 other operations of the newspaper are conducted at or from the 3.21 office, and devoted primarily to business related to the3.22newspaper. 3.23 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.01, 3.24 subdivision 10, is amended to read: 3.25 Subd. 10. [SUMMARY.] "Summary" means an accurate and 3.26 intelligible abstract or synopsis of the essential elements of 3.27 proceedings, ordinances, resolutions, financial statements, and 3.28 other official actions. It shall be written in a clear and 3.29 coherent manner, and shall, to the extent possible, avoid the 3.30 use of technical or legal terms not generally familiar to the 3.31 public. When a summary is published, the publication shall 3.32 clearly indicate that the published material is only a summary 3.33 and that the full text is available for public inspection at a 3.34 designated location or by standard or electronic mail. A 3.35 summary published in conformity with this section shall be 3.36 deemed to fulfill all legal publication requirements as 4.1 completely as if the entire matter which was summarized had been 4.2 published. No liability shall be asserted againstthe local4.3public corporationa political subdivision in connection with 4.4 the publication of a summary or agenda. 4.5 Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.02, 4.6 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 4.7 Subdivision 1. [QUALIFICATION.] No newspaper in this state 4.8 shall be entitled to any compensation or fee for publishing any 4.9 public notice unless it is a qualifiedas a medium of official4.10and legal publicationnewspaper. A newspaper that is not 4.11 qualified must inform a public body that presents a public 4.12 notice for publication that it is not qualified. To be 4.13 qualifiedas a medium of official and legal publication, a 4.14 newspaper shall: 4.15 (a) be printed in the English language in newspaper format 4.16 and in column and sheet form equivalent in printed space to at 4.17 least 1,000 square inches, or 800 square inches if thelocal4.18public corporationpolitical subdivision the newspaper purports 4.19 to serve has a population of under 1,300 and the newspaper does 4.20 not receive a public subsidy; 4.21 (b) if a daily, be distributed at least five days each 4.22 week, or. If not a daily, the newspaper may be distributedat4.23least once each week,twice a monthfor 50 weeks each yearwith 4.24 respect to the publishing of government public notices. In any 4.25 week in which a legal holiday is included, not more than four 4.26 issues of a daily paper are necessary; 4.27 (c) in at least half of its issues each year, have no more 4.28 than 75 percent of its printed space comprised of advertising 4.29 material and paid public notices. In all of its issues each 4.30 year, have 25 percent, if published more often than weekly, or 4.31 50 percent, if weekly, of its news columns devoted to news of 4.32 local interest to the community which it purports to serve. Not 4.33 more than 25 percent of its total nonadvertising column inches 4.34 in any issue may wholly duplicate any other publication unless 4.35 the duplicated material is from recognized general news 4.36 services; 5.1 (d) be circulated in thelocal public corporationpolitical 5.2 subdivision which it purports to serve, and either have at least 5.3 500 copies regularly delivered to paying subscribers, or 250 5.4 copies delivered to paying subscribers if thelocal public5.5corporationpolitical subdivision it purports to serve has a 5.6 population of under 1,300, or have at least 500 copies regularly 5.7 distributed without charge to local residents, or 250 copies 5.8 distributed without charge to local residents if thelocal5.9public corporationpolitical subdivision it purports to serve 5.10 has a population of under 1,300; 5.11 (e) have its known office of issue established in either 5.12 the county in which lies, in whole or in part, thelocal public5.13corporationpolitical subdivision which the newspaper purports 5.14 to serve, or in an adjoining county; 5.15 (f) file a copy of each issue immediately with the State 5.16 Historical Society; 5.17 (g) be made available at single or subscription prices to 5.18 any person, corporation, partnership,orother unincorporated5.19associationentity requesting the newspaper and making the 5.20 applicable payment, or be distributed without charge to local 5.21 residents; 5.22 (h) have complied with all the foregoing conditions of this 5.23 subdivision for at least one year immediately preceding the date 5.24 of the notice publication; 5.25 (i) between September 1 and December 31 of each year 5.26 publish a sworn United States Post Office periodicals-class 5.27 statement of ownership and circulation or a statement of 5.28 ownership and circulation verified by a recognized independent 5.29 circulation auditing agency covering a period of at least one 5.30 year ending no earlier than the June 30 preceding the 5.31 publication deadline. When publication occurs after December 31 5.32 and before July 1, qualification shall be effective from the 5.33 date of the filing described in paragraph (j) through December 5.34 31 of that year; and 5.35 (j) after publication, submit to the secretary of state by 5.36 December 31 a filing containing the newspaper's name, address of 6.1 its known office of issue, telephone number, and a statement 6.2 that it has complied with all of the requirements of this 6.3 section. The filing must be accompanied by a fee of $25. The 6.4 secretary of state shall make available for public inspection a 6.5 list of newspapers that have filed. Acceptance of a filing does 6.6 not constitute a guarantee by the state that any other 6.7 qualification has been met. 6.8 Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.02, 6.9 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 6.10 Subd. 3. [PUBLICATION; SUSPENSION; CHANGES.] The following 6.11 circumstances shall not affect the qualification of a newspaper, 6.12 invalidate an otherwise valid publication, or invalidate a 6.13 designation as official newspaperfor publication of county6.14board proceedings. 6.15 (a) Suspension of publication for a period of not more than 6.16 three consecutive months resulting from the destruction of its 6.17 known office of issue, equipment, or other facility by the 6.18 elements, unforeseen accident, or acts of God or by reason of a 6.19 labor dispute. 6.20 (b) The consolidation of one newspaper with another 6.21 published in the same county, or a change in its name or 6.22 ownership, or a temporary change in its known office of issue. 6.23 (c) Change of the day of publication, the frequency of 6.24 publication, or the change of the known office of issue from one 6.25 place to another within the same county. Except as provided in 6.26 this subdivision, suspension of publication, or a change of 6.27 known office of issue from one county to another, or failure to 6.28 maintain its known office of issue in the county, shall deprive 6.29 a newspaper of its standing as amedium of official and legal6.30publicationqualified newspaper untilthe newspaperit again 6.31 becomes qualified pursuant to subdivision 1. 6.32 Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.02, 6.33 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 6.34 Subd. 4. [DECLARATORY JUDGMENT OF LEGALITY.]AnyA person 6.35 interested inthe standing as a medium of official and legal6.36publication ofanewspaper,newspaper's qualification under this 7.1 section may petition the district court in the county in which 7.2 the newspaper has its known office of issue for a declaratory 7.3 judgment to determine whether the newspaper is qualifiedas a7.4medium of official and legal publication. Unless filed by the 7.5 publisher, the petition and summons shall be served on the 7.6 publisher as in other civil actions. Service in other cases 7.7 shall be made by publication of the petition and summons once 7.8 each week for three successive weeks in the newspaper or 7.9 newspapers the court may order and upon the persons as the court 7.10 may direct. Publications made in a newspaper after a judgment 7.11 that it is qualified but before the judgment is vacated or set 7.12 aside shall be valid. Except as provided in this subdivision, 7.13 the Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act and the Rules of Civil 7.14 Procedure shall apply to the action. 7.15 Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.02, is 7.16 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 7.17 Subd. 5. [POSTING NOTICES ON WEB SITE.] If, in the normal 7.18 course of its business, a qualified newspaper maintains a Web 7.19 site, then as a condition of accepting and publishing public 7.20 notices, the newspaper must agree to post all the notices on its 7.21 Web site at no additional cost. The notice must remain on the 7.22 Web site during the notice's full publication period. Failure 7.23 to post or maintain a public notice on the newspaper's Web site 7.24 does not affect the validity of the public notice. 7.25 Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.03, 7.26 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 7.27 Subdivision 1. [GENERALLY.] Except as provided in 7.28 subdivision 2, a public notice shall be published in a qualified 7.29 newspaper, and except as otherwise provided by law, in one that 7.30 is likely to give notice in the affected area or to whom it is 7.31 directed. When a statute or other law requires publication in a 7.32 newspaper located in a designatedmunicipalitypolitical 7.33 subdivision or area and no qualified newspaper is located there, 7.34 publication shall be made in a qualified newspaper likely to 7.35 give notice unless the particular statute or law expressly 7.36 provides otherwise. If no qualified newspaper exists, then 8.1 publication is not required. 8.2 Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.03, is 8.3 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 8.4 Subd. 3. [ALTERNATIVE DISSEMINATION OF BIDS AND 8.5 REQUESTS.] (a) In addition to or as an alternative to the 8.6 statutory requirements for newspaper publication, a political 8.7 subdivision may disseminate solicitations of bids, requests for 8.8 information, and requests for proposals by a means authorized in 8.9 paragraph (b), if the political subdivision simultaneously 8.10 publishes, either as part of the minutes of a regular meeting of 8.11 the governing body or in a separate notice published in the 8.12 official newspaper, a description of all solicitations or 8.13 requests so disseminated, along with the means by which the 8.14 dissemination occurred. 8.15 (b) A political subdivision may use its Web site or 8.16 recognized industry trade journals as an alternative means of 8.17 dissemination. A dissemination by alternative means must be in 8.18 substantially the same format and for the same period of time as 8.19 a publication required by this chapter. 8.20 (c) For the first six months after a political subdivision 8.21 designates an alternative means of dissemination, it must 8.22 continue to publish solicitation of bids, requests for 8.23 information, and requests for proposals in the official 8.24 newspaper in addition to the alternative method. The 8.25 publication in the official newspaper must indicate where to 8.26 find the designated alternative method. After the expiration of 8.27 the six-month period, an alternative means of dissemination 8.28 satisfies the publication requirements of law for solicitation 8.29 of bids, requests for information, and requests for proposals. 8.30 Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.04, as 8.31 amended by Laws 2003, chapter 59, section 1, is amended to read: 8.32 331A.04 [DESIGNATION OF A NEWSPAPER FOR OFFICIAL 8.33 PUBLICATIONS.] 8.34 Subdivision 1. [PRIORITY.] The governing body ofany local8.35public corporationa political subdivision, when authorized or 8.36 required by statute or charter to designate a newspaper for 9.1 publication of itsofficial proceedings andpublic notices, 9.2 shall designate a qualified newspaperwhich is a qualified9.3medium of official and legal publicationin the following 9.4 priority. 9.5 Subd. 2. [KNOWN OFFICE IN LOCALITY.] If there are one or 9.6 more qualified newspapers, the known office of issue of which 9.7 are located within thelocal public corporationpolitical 9.8 subdivision, one of them shall be designated. 9.9 Subd. 3. [SECONDARY OFFICE IN LOCALITY.] When no qualified 9.10 newspaper has a known office of issue located in thelocal9.11public corporationpolitical subdivision, but one or more 9.12 qualified newspapers maintain a secondary office there, one of 9.13 them shall be designated. 9.14 Subd. 4. [GENERAL CIRCULATION IN LOCALITY.] When no 9.15 qualified newspaper has its known office of issue or a secondary 9.16 office located within thelocal public corporationpolitical 9.17 subdivision, then a qualified newspaper of general circulation 9.18 there shall be designated. 9.19 Subd. 5. [OTHER SITUATIONS.] If alocal public corporation9.20 political subdivision is without an official newspaper, or if 9.21 the publisher refuses to publish a particular public notice, 9.22 matters required to be published shall be published in a 9.23 newspaper designated as provided in subdivision 4. The 9.24 governing body of alocal public corporationpolitical 9.25 subdivision with territory in two or more counties may, if 9.26 deemed in the public interest, designate a separate qualified 9.27 newspaper for each county. 9.28 Subd. 6. [EXCEPTION TO DESIGNATION PRIORITY.] (a) 9.29 Notwithstanding subdivisions 1 to 3, the governing body of a 9.30local public corporationpolitical subdivision may designate any 9.31 newspaper for publication of its official proceedings and public 9.32 notices, if the following conditions are met: 9.33 (1) the newspaper is a qualified medium of official and 9.34 legal publication; 9.35 (2) the publisher of the newspaper furnishes a sworn 9.36 statement, verified by a recognized independent circulation 10.1 auditing agency, covering a period of at least one year ending 10.2 no earlier than 60 days before designation of the newspaper, 10.3 stating that the newspaper's circulation reaches not fewer than 10.4 75 percent of the households within thepublic corporation10.5 political subdivision; 10.6 (3) the newspaper has provided regular coverage of the 10.7 proceedings of the governing body of thelocal public10.8corporationpolitical subdivision and will continue to do so; 10.9 and 10.10 (4) the governing body votes unanimously to designate the 10.11 newspaper. 10.12 (b) If the circulation of a newspaper designated under this 10.13 subdivision falls below 75 percent of the households within the 10.14public local corporationpolitical subdivision at any time 10.15 within the term of its designation as official newspaper, its 10.16 qualification to publish public notices for thelocal public10.17corporationpolitical subdivision terminates. 10.18 Subd. 7. [JOINT BIDDING.] A bid submitted jointly by two 10.19 or more newspapers for the publication of public notices must 10.20 not be considered anticompetitive or otherwise unlawful if the 10.21 following conditions are met: 10.22 (1) all of the qualified newspapers in the political 10.23 subdivision participate in the joint bid; 10.24 (2) the existence of the joint bid arrangement is disclosed 10.25 to the governing body of the political subdivision before or at 10.26 the time of submission of the joint bid; and 10.27 (3) the board is free to reject the joint bid and, if it 10.28 does, individual qualified newspapers do not refuse to submit 10.29 separate bids owing to the rejection of the joint bid. 10.30 Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.05, 10.31 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 10.32 Subd. 3. [TYPE FACE.] Except as otherwise directed by a 10.33 particular statute requiring publication of a public notice or 10.34 by order of a court, a public notice shall be printed in a type 10.35 face no smaller than six point with a lowercase alphabet of at 10.36 least 90pointpoints. Larger type faces may be used. 11.1 Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.05, 11.2 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 11.3 Subd. 4. [TITLE OR CAPTION.] Every public notice shall 11.4 include a bold face title or caption in a body type no smaller 11.5 than brevier or eight point referring to the content of the 11.6 notice. Larger type faces may be used. 11.7 Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.05, 11.8 subdivision 5, is amended to read: 11.9 Subd. 5. [LOCAL OPTIONS.] The governing body of alocal11.10public corporationpolitical subdivision may, to better inform 11.11 the public, increase the frequency of publication of a public 11.12 notice beyond the minimum required by a particular statute. It 11.13 may use forms and styles for the notice as it deems appropriate, 11.14 including the use of display advertisements and graphics.It11.15may publish or disseminate the notice in other newspapers in11.16addition to the newspaper required to be designated under11.17section 331A.04.In addition to publication in the newspaper 11.18 required to be designated under section 331A.04, it may publish 11.19 or disseminate the notice in other newspapers and by means of 11.20 standard and electronic mail. Regardless of whether a 11.21 particular statute specifies "legal notice," "public notice," 11.22 "notice," or uses similar terms, the governing body may use 11.23 whatever form for the published notice that it deems appropriate 11.24 in order to adequately inform the public, subject to the 11.25 requirements of sections 331A.01 to 331A.11. Nothing in the 11.26 foregoing provisions of this subdivision shall require the 11.27 governing body of alocal public corporationpolitical 11.28 subdivision to use the options described. 11.29 Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.05, 11.30 subdivision 7, is amended to read: 11.31 Subd. 7. [ERRORS IN PUBLICATION.] If through no fault of 11.32 thelocal public corporationpolitical subdivision, an error 11.33 occurs in the publication of a public notice, the error shall 11.34 have no effect on the validity of the event, action, or 11.35 proceeding to which the public notice relates. 11.36 Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.05, is 12.1 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 12.2 Subd. 8. [NOTICE REGARDING PUBLISHED SUMMARIES.] If a 12.3 political subdivision elects to publish a summary of the 12.4 political subdivision's financial statement or proceedings as 12.5 authorized by other law, it must include with the published 12.6 summary a notice stating that a copy of the full version of the 12.7 financial statement or proceedings other than attachments to the 12.8 minutes is available without cost at the offices of the 12.9 political subdivision or by means of standard or electronic mail. 12.10 Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.06, 12.11 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 12.12 Subd. 3. When the governing board of alocal public12.13corporationpolitical subdivision awards a contract for the 12.14 publication of public notices based on competitive bidding, the 12.15 rate established by the competitive bidding shall be the rate 12.16 charged for publication of the public notices. 12.17 Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.06, is 12.18 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 12.19 Subd. 5. [MULTIYEAR PUBLICATION 12.20 CONTRACTS.] Notwithstanding other law, a political subdivision 12.21 may enter into multiyear contracts with a qualified newspaper 12.22 for publication of the political subdivision's public notices. 12.23 No multiyear contract may be for a term longer than three years. 12.24 Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.07, is 12.25 amended to read: 12.26 331A.07 [AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION.] 12.27No compensation shall be recoverable for publishing legal12.28or official matter in any newspaper not qualified, until there12.29is filed with the county auditor the affidavit of a person12.30having knowledge of the facts, showing the name and location of12.31the newspaper and the existence of conditions constituting its12.32qualifications as a qualified newspaper as set forth in section12.33331A.02. If the matter published relates to proceedings in12.34another county, a like affidavit must be filed with its12.35auditor. The affidavit, if it states the required facts, shall12.36be prima facie evidence of them and of the qualification.No 13.1 compensation shall be recoverable for publishinglegal or13.2official mattera public notice in any newspaper unless the bill 13.3 is accompanied by an affidavit of the publisher of the newspaper 13.4 or the publisher's designated agent, having knowledge of the 13.5 facts,setting forth the factstating that the newspaper has 13.6 complied with all the requirements to constitute alegal13.7 qualified newspaper. The affidavit must set forth the dates of 13.8 the month and year and the day of the week upon which thelegal13.9or official matterpublic notice was published in the 13.10 newspaper. The affidavit must also include the publisher's 13.11 lowest classified rate paid by commercial users for comparable 13.12 space, as determined pursuant to section 331A.06, the maximum13.13charge allowable by law for the publication of the specific13.14legal or official matter in question, and the rate actually13.15charged for that publication. 13.16 Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.08, is 13.17 amended by adding a subdivision to read: 13.18 Subd. 3. [PUBLICATION OF PROCEEDINGS.] Notwithstanding 13.19 other statutory publication requirements, if the governing body 13.20 of a political subdivision conducts regular meetings not more 13.21 than once every 30 days, the governing body need not publish the 13.22 meeting minutes in the official newspaper until ten days after 13.23 the proceedings have been approved by the governing body. 13.24 Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.09, is 13.25 amended to read: 13.26 331A.09 [PUBLICATION ON SUNDAY OR HOLIDAY.] 13.27 Any public notice may lawfully be printed in a newspaper 13.28 published on a Sunday, and the publication is a lawful13.29publication and a full compliance with the order of the court or13.30officer ordering the publicationor holiday. Any notice that, 13.31 by law or the order of any court, is required to be published 13.32 for any given number of weeks may be published on any day in 13.33 each weekorof the term, and if published as many weeks and as 13.34 many times in each week as required by the law or order, it is a 13.35 lawful publication. 13.36 Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.10, 14.1 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 14.2 Subdivision 1. [CHANGE OF NAME.] When alegalpublic 14.3 notice is required or ordered to be published in a particular 14.4 newspaper and the name of the newspaper is changed before the 14.5 publication is completed, the publication shall be made or 14.6 continued in the newspaper under its new name with the same 14.7 effect as if the name had not been changed. The proof of the 14.8 publication, in addition to other requirements, shall state the 14.9 change of name and specify the period of publication in the 14.10 newspaper under each name. 14.11 Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.11, 14.12 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 14.13 Subdivision 1. [APPLYAPPLICATION.] Sections 331A.01 to 14.14 331A.11 apply to allmunicipalities and local public14.15corporationspolitical subdivisions of the state. 14.16 Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 331A.11, 14.17 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 14.18 Subd. 2. [DO NOT APPLYNOTICES EXCLUDED.] Sections 331A.01 14.19 to 331A.11 do not apply to notices required by private 14.20 agreements or local laws to be published in newspapers, unless 14.21 they refer expressly or by implication tosections 331A.01 to14.22331A.11,this chapter or to particular provisions ofsections14.23331A.01 to 331A.11this chapter. 14.24 Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 375.12, 14.25 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 14.26 Subd. 2. [SMALL CLAIMS TOTALED.] Individualized itemized 14.27 accounts, claims or demands allowed by the county board pursuant 14.28 to section 471.38, subdivision 1, need not be published pursuant 14.29 to subdivision 1, if the amount allowed from each claim 14.30 is$100$300 or less. The official proceedings following the 14.31 itemization of accounts required shall contain a statement 14.32 showing the total number of claims that did not exceed$100$300 14.33 and their total dollar amount. 14.34 Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 375.17, 14.35 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 14.36 Subdivision 1. [STATEMENT CONTENTS; SUMMARIES.] Annually, 15.1 not later than the first Tuesday after the first Monday in 15.2 March, the county board shall make a full and accurate statement 15.3 of the receipts and expenditures of the preceding year, which 15.4 shall contain a statement of the assets and liabilities, a 15.5 summary of receipts, disbursements, and balances of all county 15.6 funds together with a detailed statement of each fund account, 15.7 under the form and style prescribed by and on file with the 15.8 state auditor. The prescribed form and any changes or 15.9 modifications of it shall so far as practical be uniform for all 15.10 countiesand be approved by the attorney general and the state15.11printer. Annually the board shall publish the statement or a 15.12 summary of the statement in a form as prescribed by the state 15.13 auditor, for one issue in a duly qualified legal newspaper in 15.14 the county. 15.15 Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 412.191, 15.16 subdivision 3, is amended to read: 15.17 Subd. 3. [PUBLICATION OF PROCEEDINGS.] The council, after 15.18 every regular or special meeting, shall publish the official 15.19 council proceedings,or a summary conforming to section 331A.01, 15.20 subdivision 10, or a condensed version of the official minutes15.21which shall include action on motions, resolutions, ordinances,15.22and other official proceedings. As an alternative to 15.23 publication, the city may mail, at city expense, a copy of the 15.24 proceedings to any resident upon request. The publication shall 15.25 occur within 30 days of the meeting to which the proceedings 15.26 relate. Cities with a population of less than 1,000 according 15.27 to the latest federal census are not required to comply with 15.28 this section, but may do so at their discretion. 15.29 Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 471.698, 15.30 subdivision 1, is amended to read: 15.31 Subdivision 1. [ALL OPERATIONS EXCEPT SOME HOSPITALS, 15.32 NURSING HOMES.] In any city with a population of less than 2,500 15.33 according to the latest federal census, the city clerk or chief 15.34 financial officer shall: 15.35 (a) Prepare a detailed statement of the financial affairs 15.36 of the city including operations of municipal hospitals and 16.1 nursing homes, liquor stores, and public utility commissions in 16.2 the style and form prescribed by the state auditor, for the 16.3 preceding fiscal year showing all money received, with the 16.4 sources, and respective amounts thereof; all disbursements for 16.5 which orders have been drawn upon the treasurer; the amount of 16.6 outstanding and unpaid orders; all accounts payable; all 16.7 indebtedness; contingent liabilities; all accounts receivable; 16.8 the amount of money remaining in the treasury; and all items 16.9 necessary to show accurately the revenues and expenditures and 16.10 financial position of the city; 16.11 (b) File the statement in the clerk's or financial 16.12 officer's office for the public inspection and present it to the 16.13 city council within 45 days after the close of the fiscal year; 16.14 (c) (1) Publish the statement, or a summary of the 16.15 statement in a form as prescribed by the state auditor, within 16.16 90 days after the close of the fiscal year in a qualified 16.17 newspaper of general circulation in the city; or 16.18 (2) If there is no qualified newspaper of general 16.19 circulation in the city, the clerk shall, at the direction of 16.20 the city council, post copies in three of the most public places 16.21 in the city; or16.22(3) If city council proceedings are published monthly or16.23quarterly, showing to whom and for what purpose orders are drawn16.24upon the treasurer, the annual statement to be published as16.25required by this section may be summarized in such form as the16.26state auditor may prescribe. It is not necessary to publish 16.27 individual disbursements of less than$100$300, if 16.28 disbursements aggregating $1,000 or more to any person, firm, or 16.29 other entity are set forth in a schedule of major disbursements 16.30 showing amounts paid out, to whom, and for what purpose, and are 16.31 made a part of and published with the financial statement; and 16.32 (d) Submit within 90 days after the close of the fiscal 16.33 year a copy of the statement to the state auditor in such 16.34 summary form as the state auditor may prescribe. 16.35 A municipal hospital or nursing home established before 16.36 June 6, 1979 whose fiscal year is not a calendar year on August 17.1 1, 1980 is not subject to this subdivision but shall submit to 17.2 the state auditor a detailed statement of its financial affairs 17.3 audited by a certified public accountant, a public accountant or 17.4 the state auditor no later than 120 days after the close of its 17.5 fiscal year. It may also submit a summary financial report for 17.6 the calendar year. 17.7 Sec. 32. [REPORT ON PUBLIC NOTICE STATUTES.] 17.8 The revisor of statutes shall compile a list of all 17.9 statutes that require publication of public notices and submit 17.10 the report to the chairs of the government operations committees 17.11 of the house and senate by January 1, 2006. 17.12 Sec. 33. [REPEALER.] 17.13 Minnesota Statutes 2002, sections 331A.01, subdivision 5; 17.14 and 331A.02, subdivision 2, are repealed.