(a) Public notice of a project shall be given by publication once a week for at least two consecutive weeks or once a week for more than two consecutive weeks if the longer period of advertising is deemed necessary by the department, as follows:

(1) In a newspaper of general circulation published in the county in which the project is located, or if located in more than one county, in such a newspaper in a county in which a major portion of the work is to be done.

(2) In a trade paper of general circulation published in San Francisco for projects located in County Group No. 1, as defined in Section 187 of the Streets and Highways Code, or in Los Angeles for projects located in County Group No. 2, as defined in Section 187 of the Streets and Highways Code, devoted primarily to the dissemination of contract and building news among contracting and building materials supply firms.

(b) The department may publish the notice to bidders for a project in additional trade papers or newspapers of general circulation that it deems advisable.

(c) (1) In the case of the Department of Transportation, instead of the public notice described in subdivision (a), the public notice requirement of this section may instead be met by publishing the public notice electronically on that department’s Internet Web site.

(2) If the department exercises its authority under paragraph (1), the department shall also publish information regarding notices listed on the department’s Internet Web site in trade papers, newspapers, or magazines, as appropriate in order to ensure all communities have access to the public notice, including those publications whose primary audience consists of underrepresented groups, including, but not limited to, women, minorities, LGBT, and disabled veterans, pursuant to the frequency requirements specified in subdivision (a).

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 95, Sec. 9. (SB 103) Effective July 21, 2017.)