S343 Summary

• Modernizes legal advertising requirements by replacing rigid newspaper qualification standards with new criteria requiring newspapers to have at least 100 paid subscribers, distribute 1,000+ copies per issue in the county, and maintain regular weekly publication for 50 of 52 preceding weeks.

• Establishes a newspaper qualification and renewal system requiring $500 initial application fee and $100 annual renewal fee to the clerk of superior court, with newspapers able to qualify in multiple counties.

• Creates a pilot program (effective October 1, 2017 through December 31, 2019) allowing Buncombe, Durham, Forsyth, and Guilford counties to publish legal notices on county-maintained websites as an alternative to newspaper publication.

• Requires newspapers maintaining internet websites to post legal notices the same day as print publication at no additional charge, provide email notification of notices upon request, and include searchable legal notice sections and hyperlinks on their homepages.

• Removes the rebuttable presumption excluding newspaper delivery persons from workers' compensation employee coverage.