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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO PASS SB 914, HB 89 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION ALLOWING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO USE GOVERNMENT WEBSITES AND EMAIL FOR PUBLIC NOTICES AND LEGALLY-REQUIRED ADVERTISEMENTS

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WHEREAS, in at least 74 different places in statute, Florida law currently requires local governments to publish legal advertisements and public notices in newspapers; and
WHEREAS, many of these statutory requirements have been in place for decades, some have not been changed for 50 years or more, and a few are almost a century old; and
WHEREAS, while these statutory legal advertisement and public notice requirements have remained static, the way people receive information has changed dramatically over the last few decades; and
WHEREAS, newspaper circulation and readership has declined, while increasing numbers of people receive information via the internet and email; and
WHEREAS, while decades ago newspapers may have been the most effective means to disseminate legal advertisements and public notices, there are now more effective ways to reach the public by way of government websites and email; and
WHEREAS, the internet and email not only offer more effective ways to reach the public, but such media also are more cost effective; and
WHEREAS, publishing hundreds of legal advertisements and public notices in newspapers continues to be a substantial expense to local governments; and
WHEREAS, last year, Miami-Dade County budgeted more than $1 million publishing legal advertisements and public notices in newspapers; and
WHEREAS, in these tight budget times when every dollar counts, the County could realize a savings while at the same time improving access to legal advertisements and public notices if state law were revised to allow the use of the County website and email for legal advertisements and public notices; and
WHEREAS, bills were filed during the 2010 legislative session, SB 376 by Senator Charles S. �Charlie� Dean (R � Inverness) and HB 1511 by Representative Ritch Workman (R � Melbourne), that would have allowed local governments to provide public notices and legal advertisements on a government website and via email rather than publishing them in newspapers, but these bills did not pass; and
WHEREAS, bills related to website public notices and legal advertisements have been filed for consideration during the 2011 session, SB 914 by Senator Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) and HB 89 by Representative Workman; and
WHEREAS, this Board supports passage of SB 914, HB 89 or similar legislation providing for website public notices and legal advertisements,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to pass SB 914, HB 89 or similar legislation allowing local governments to use government websites and email for public notices and legally-required advertisements.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation, Senator Mike Bennett and Representative Ritch Workman.
Section 3. Directs the County's state lobbyists to advocate for the legislation set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs that the 2011 and 2012 State Legislative Packages be amended to include this item.