(a) General rule.--No local or special bill to enact a local or special statute shall be passed by the General Assembly, unless notice of the intention to apply therefor shall be published, once a week for four successive weeks, in not less than two newspapers of general circulation, and also in the legal journal, if any, published in the county or in each of the several counties where the matter or thing affected may be. Where the matter or thing affected is in a municipality, publication shall be made in two newspapers of general circulation published in such municipality, if any, and, if none, then in two newspapers published in the county, and, in either event, also in the legal journal, if any, published in the county. Where only one newspaper of general circulation is published in a county or in a municipality, publication in such one newspaper and in the legal journal, if any, shall be deemed sufficient.

(b) Time of first publication.--The first publication shall be at least 30 days prior to, and within three months immediately preceding, the introduction of the bill into the General Assembly.

(c) Content and signing of notice.--The notice shall set forth the full title and the purposes of the bill, and shall be signed by one of the parties applying therefor.

(d) Filing proof of publication.--Proof of publication in each newspaper and legal journal, verified by affidavit, shall be filed with the bill when it is introduced.

(e) Exception from notice requirement.--Notice shall not be required to be given under this section of a proposal to repeal a local or special statute by any of the following:

(1) A general bill which codifies, compiles or revises the law or any part thereof.

(2) A bill which:

(i) only eliminates obsolete statutory provisions; and

(ii) makes specific reference in its title to that elimination.

(Oct. 30, 2001, P.L.815, No.79, eff. imd.)

2001 Amendment. Act 79 amended subsecs. (a) and (e).