(1) The county commissioners shall contract for all advertising required by law. The advertising required by law must be awarded to a newspaper that:
(a) is published in the county;
(b) has general circulation;
(c) has been published continuously at least once a week in the county for the 12 months preceding the awarding of the contract; and
(d) prior to July 1 of each year, has submitted to the clerk and recorder a sworn statement that includes:
(i) circulation for the prior 12 months;
(ii) a statement of net distribution;
(iii) itemization of the circulation that is paid and that is free; and
(iv) the method of distribution.
(2) A newsletter or other document produced or published by the local government unit is not considered a newspaper that has general circulation as provided in subsection (1).
(3) The term of a contract for county legal advertising may not exceed a period of 2 years.