Assembly Bill A11649

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   11649
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               July 29, 2026
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Eachus) --
   read once and referred 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 people. Furthermore, this
 act  is  intended to define safe and acceptable methods of placing memo-
 rials 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 SUCH COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE, THE SUPERINTENDENT  OF
 STATE  POLICE  OR  SUCH  SUPERINTENDENT'S  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.
   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
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD00335-01-5
 A. 11649                            2
 
 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.