Senate Bill S535

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    535
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 9, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to creating a state trooper
   highway memorial task force

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Legislative intent. It is the intent of the legislature to
 provide a mechanism to enhance recognition for  fallen  members  of  the
 state  police who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
 It shall be the charge of the task force created by this act to  develop
 a  procedure  for recognition of these dedicated men and women. Further-
 more, this act is intended to define  safe  and  acceptable  methods  of
 placing  memorials  along  the highways of this state that appropriately
 pay tribute to their service and preserve their memory forever.
   § 2. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 340-e to  read
 as follows:
   §  340-E.  STATE  TROOPER  HIGHWAY  MEMORIAL  TASK FORCE. 1. THE STATE
 TROOPER HIGHWAY MEMORIAL TASK FORCE IS HEREBY CREATED TO BE COMPRISED OF
 THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE,  THE  SUPERINTENDENT  OF  STATE
 POLICE  OR  HIS  OR  HER DESIGNEE, AND A MEMBER OF THE POLICE BENEVOLENT
 ASSOCIATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE TROOPERS, INC.
   2. WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, THE  TASK
 FORCE  SHALL DEVELOP AND ESTABLISH GUIDELINES FOR RECOGNITION OF MEMBERS
 OF THE DIVISION OF STATE POLICE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.  SUCH
 RECOGNITION MAY BE IN THE FORM OF THE DEDICATION OF A PORTION OF A STATE
 HIGHWAY  AND/OR  THE  PLACEMENT  OF  A MEMORIAL PLAQUE OR MARKER ALONG A
 STATE HIGHWAY. ANY PLACEMENT OF A MEMORIAL  PLAQUE  OR  MARKER  ALONG  A
 STATE  HIGHWAY  SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER TO ENSURE THE SAFE
 AND EFFECTIVE TRAFFIC FLOW ALONG HIGHWAYS IN THIS STATE.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD02712-01-9

 S. 535                              2
 
   3. ANY PERSON MAY SUBMIT TO THE STATE TROOPER  HIGHWAY  MEMORIAL  TASK
 FORCE,  IN  WRITING,  A  PETITION  SEEKING RECOGNITION OF MEMBERS OF THE
 DIVISION OF STATE POLICE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
 SUCH PETITION SHALL BE IN SUCH FORM AND CONTAIN SUCH INFORMATION AS  THE
 TASK  FORCE  MAY  REQUIRE. UPON THE RECEIPT OF A PETITION THE TASK FORCE
 SHALL CONSIDER THE REQUEST AND ADVISE THE APPLICANT, IN  WRITING,  OF  A
 DECISION  ON  ANY ACTION TO BE TAKEN WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF THE RECEIPT OF
 SUCH PETITION. UPON THE ACCEPTANCE OF ANY PETITION, THE TASK FORCE SHALL
 DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE FORM AND LOCATION OF THE MEMORIAL TO BE IMPLE-
 MENTED.
   § 3. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the  instal-
 lation  and  maintenance of adequate memorial plaques, markers and signs
 along the state highway system as designated pursuant to  section  340-e
 of  the highway law, as added by section two of this act; provided that,
 to avoid any confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce,
 any designation called for pursuant to such section shall be  one  of  a
 ceremonial  nature  and  the  official name of such highway shall not be
 changed as a result of this act.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.