08 LC 28
4212
Senate
Resolution 1166
By:
Senators Staton of the 18th, Rogers of the 21st, Douglas of the 17th and Heath
of the 31st
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
To
create the Senate Public and Legal Notices Study Committee; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
for many years, the State of Georgia has utilized newspapers as its primary
means of providing the public with notice of governmental actions and legal
matters; and
WHEREAS,
in today's electronic age, the Internet is increasingly becoming the medium by
which most people obtain information on a variety of topics including current
events and government; and
WHEREAS,
the subscriber base for many newspapers is decreasing in favor of other media
for information distribution; and
WHEREAS,
the posting of notices of governmental action and notices of legal matters is a
matter of no small significance in that such postings constitute notice to all
persons of the contents of such notices and the failure of a person actually to
view such notices is not a defense to the giving of such notice under the law;
and
WHEREAS,
the posting of such notices fixes certain legal rights and responsibilities and
has a significant legal result on the positions of individuals; and
WHEREAS,
in light of the importance placed on public and legal notices in informing the
public of governmental actions and legal matters, a study of the manner of
giving such notices is needed.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that there is created the Senate Public
and Legal Notices Study Committee to be composed of five members of the Senate
appointed by the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor shall designate
one of the members of the committee to serve as chairperson of the committee.
The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee shall undertake a study of the
conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and
recommend any actions or legislation that the committee deems necessary or
appropriate. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and
effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and
purposes of this resolution. The members of the committee shall receive the
allowances authorized for legislative members of interim legislative committees
but shall receive the same for not more than five days unless additional days
are authorized. The funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this
resolution shall come from the funds appropriated to the Senate. In the event
that the committee makes a report of its findings and recommendations with
suggestions for proposed legislation, if any, such report shall be made on or
before December 31, 2008. The committee shall stand abolished on December 31,
2008.