Section 1.Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to allow, but not require the Town of Lincoln and its subdivisions to satisfy legal notice requirements entirely by digital publication as voted necessary by its Select Board and School Committee in light of the changing landscape of print newspaper businesses, particularly at the local level.

Section 2.Means of Legal Notice Publication

Notwithstanding G.L. c. 4, section 13 (b), wherever the town of Lincoln, Lincoln Public Schools and/or their subdivisions, committees, boards, commissions, or offices are required by statute, ordinance, by-law or judicial order to publish a legal notice in a newspaper or newspaper of general circulation, the person, corporation, agency, authority, municipality, or legal entity may satisfy such requirement by one or more of the following means:

A.a print newspaper of local or general circulation;

B.a newspaper’s website;

C.websites reporting local news and opinion which satisfy all criteria for digital publication as set forth in G.L., c. 4, section 13(b);

D.a statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices; or

E.a town-wide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices;

Section 3.Nothing set forth in this Act shall be construed to alter or amend the time or timing of publication of legal notices set forth in the General Laws.

Section 4.This act shall take effect upon passage, subject to any editorial changes of form only that may be suggested by the General Court and any amendments that the Select Board determines to be within the scope of the general purpose objectives of this petition.