The Indiana Publisher

The Indiana Publisher Published alternate Thursdays Volume 78, Issue 18 • August 29, 2013 Access counselor has news training Appointee worked at Indiana paper I Ensure your newspaper's notices are included on Indianapublicnotices.com. For more information, email sgoldsby@hspa.com. Public notice website goes live T he Hoosier State Press Association launched an improved online clearinghouse of Indiana public notice advertisements. The association revamped its website for the notices – Indianapublicnotices.com – with easy-to-navigate features and a large collection of listings from across the state. All notices at Indianapublicnotices.com also were printed in member newspapers. Users can search notices by keyword, date, newspaper, county or city for free. "We hope our members will use their print and digital products to spread the word to readers about this service to promote government transparency," said Steve Key, HSPA executive director and general counsel. See Website, Page 2 HSPA strives for 100 percent member participation See Counselor, Page 2 INSIDE HSPA's revamped public notice website – Indianapublicnotices.com – allows users to quickly search notices by keyword, date, newspaper, county or city for free. Spread the word among your readers. General Assembly group will scrutinize notices T he Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy will question the value of publishing public notices, according to State Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek. The General Assembly assigned the commission to study the topic, Brandt Hershman among others. Local government units must publish a notice every fall that includes their proposed budget and announces ndiana's newest public access counselor worked as a reporter early in his career. Gov. Mike Pence appointed Luke Britt to the position. His first day Luke Britt was Aug. 26. Britt said educating the public and government officials will be his focus as he acclimates himself to the job. "The more the public is informed, the more public agencies are informed, the better people can see what government is doing," he said. "That benefits Hoosiers as a whole." Steve Key, HSPA executive director and general counsel, plans to meet with Britt this week. "The HSPA looks forward to continuing our work with the public access counselor's office in promoting access to information," Key said. "The joint public education programs we've conducted with the attorney general's office have been well received around the state." Britt previously served as an attorney and operations manager for the Indiana State Department of Health and as an attorney for the Department of Child Services the public hearing where citizens can comment on the budget and its impact on taxes they will have to pay to fund it. When asked whether the commission was concerned about notices' utility for taxpayers or with the delivery method (newspapers), Hershman indicated that both aspects would be examined. During a cordial conversation with Hershman, who chairs the commission, HSPA Executive Director and General Counsel Steve Key pointed out the positive attributes of newspaper publication: independent entity, verifiability, archivability and accessibility. The commission has not announced which public meeting will hear testimony on the subject. Other commission members include State Sens. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and Tim Skinner, D-Terre Haute, and State Reps. Eric Turner, R-Cicero, and Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis. Hershman asked HSPA to examine the present public notice policy and suggest improvements. Key said the association would seek input from members and outside entities to develop a proposal. Foundation Front: A new feature on the editorial and advertising contest websites lets your staff save their best work all year so it's in one place at entry time. Page 3 Key Points: Dear town council, The Open Door Law allows the public to record your meetings. Page 4 Can they do that?! Answers to your legal questions. Page 4

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