00CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 168(STA)                                                                                         
01 "An Act relating to newspapers of general circulation."                                                                 
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1.  AS 01.10.060 is amended by adding a new paragraph to read:                                             
04   (15)  "newspaper of general circulation" means a publication that                                                    
05   (A)  is published in newspaper format;                                                                              
06   (B)  contains, in at least 25 percent of each issue, editorial                                                      
07 comments and news content that is of general interest in the relevant area, not                                         
08 just to a particular part of the relevant area; has more than an insignificant                                          
09 circulation throughout the relevant area; for at least two years, has been                                              
10 distributed at least two times a month each year within the relevant area,                                              
11 excluding a period when publication is interrupted by a labor dispute or by a                                           
12 natural disaster, or other casualty that the publisher cannot control; and has a                                        
13 total paid circulation of at least 1,000 bona fide subscribers, or a total paid                                         
14 circulation of at least 20 percent of the total population of the relevant area,                                        

01 whichever is less; in this subparagraph, "relevant area" means the judicial                                             
02 district, municipality, or other geographical area specified in or otherwise used                                       
03 in the governing statute or regulation to determine where the publication,                                              
04 advertising, or other activity is to be accomplished by using a newspaper of                                            
05 general circulation;                                                                                                    
06   (C)  holds a second class mailing permit from the United States                                                     
07 Postal Service; and                                                                                                     
08   (D)  is not published primarily to distribute advertising.                                                          
09    * Sec. 2.  AS 09.65 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                      
10  Sec. 09.65.160.  ACTION TO ESTABLISH NEWSPAPER STATUS.  A person                                                      
11 who owns a publication may bring an action under AS 22.10.020(g) to establish that                                      
12 the publication is a newspaper of general circulation under AS 01.10.060.