2023 New York Laws › HAY - Highway › Article 4 - Improvement With Federal Aid › 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.