N.Y. Highway Law § 88-a: Tourism signage task force

§ 88-a. Tourism signage task force. 1. There is hereby established a

tourism signage task force consisting of the following members:

(a) the commissioner or his or her designated representative from the

departments of transportation, economic development, environmental

conservation, agriculture and markets and of the office of parks,

recreation and historic preservation;

(b) the chairperson, or his or her designated representative, of the

New York state thruway authority, the adirondack park agency and the

tourism advisory council;

(c) a representative of travel and vacation related business and a

representative of an organization of automobile users and owners

appointed by the governor.

2. The chairman of the task force shall be the commissioner. The

members of the task force may elect a vice chairman, secretary or such

other officers as it may deem necessary for such terms as its members

shall determine.

3. Members of the board, except for those representing New York state

departments, agencies, authorities or councils, shall serve for a term

of two years and may be reappointed in the same manner as provided for

their initial appointment.

4. A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a

quorum for the transaction of any business or the exercise of any power

or function of the task force. An act, determination, or decision of the

members present and entitled to vote during the presence of a quorum

shall be held to be the act, determination or decision of the task

force.

5. The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the

chairman. Additional meetings may be called by the chairman subject to

the giving of one week's notice, and shall be called by him at the

request of a majority of the members of the task force.

6. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their

service as members. Members of the task force representing state

agencies, departments, authorities or councils shall be compensated for

their actual and necessary expenses by warrant of the comptroller and

voucher of their department, agency, authority or council. Members of

the task force not representing a state department, agency, authority or

council shall, under the warrant of the comptroller and voucher of the

commissioner, or his duly designated agent, be allowed their necessary

and actual expenses incurred in the performance of duty.

7. The task force shall:

(a) identify and define responsibilities with respect to the placement

of tourism related directional and informational signage and promote

inter-agency cooperation in order to encourage a uniform signage policy.

(b) advise the commissioner on the development of a uniform and

comprehensive state policy on tourism related signage and other

traveller information services.

(c) assist in the development of a working plan for the funding,

placement and maintenance of directional and informational signs in

accordance with an established policy on tourism signage.

(d) assist and advise on the preparation, publication and distribution

of a handbook on tourism signage that will identify rules and laws

governing tourism related signage, listing contact points for the public

to use in soliciting information and to apply for placement of tourism

related signage and identifying costs associated with such directional

signage.

(e) advise and assist in the development of an adequate budget for the

commissioner to implement the plan for tourism signage and such other

informational services as are necessary to guide the travelling public.

(f) advise the commissioner on the marking of motor touring trails

designated by statute.

(g) advise the commissioner on scenic, environmental, traffic safety

or other concerns which may supersede the implementation of the tourism

signage plan and policy.

(h) review, evaluate and advise the commissioner on conflicts

associated with overlapping jurisdiction governing signage, limitations

on the placement of signs, and establishing priority for placement of

signage when demand exceeds the available space for directional signage,

and such other issues which may come to the attention of the task force.

(i) evaluate and recommend to the commissioner or the legislature

initiatives to enhance or facilitate the development of a signage policy

or plan.

(j) report on or before January first of each year to the governor,

the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and

the chairman of the appropriate legislative committees on the activities

of the task force with respect to its functions, powers and duties.

8. The task force may request and shall receive from any subdivision,

department, board, bureau, commission, office, agency, or other

instrumentality of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, such

facilities, assistance and data as it deems necessary and desirable for

the proper execution of its functions, powers and duties hereunder. Any

expenses of the task force, including compensation to such personnel as

may be employed by the task force, shall be payable out of moneys

otherwise appropriated to the state department of transportation.