HCS SB 840 -- HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES

SPONSOR:  Stouffer (St. Onge)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Transportation by a vote of 13 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding the highway and bridge
designation process.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Specifies that a person requesting a highway or bridge
designation must submit the proper documents and fees to the
Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight no later than
November 1 prior to the next regular session of the General
Assembly;

(2)  Clarifies that the Joint Committee on Transportation
Oversight will be responsible for approving or denying highway
designations;

(3)  Specifies that the signs erected must be maintained for a
20-year period; and after that time, the signs will be subject to
removal unless the sponsoring organization or person files
another application to retain the designation;

(4)  Specifies that the fee for constructing and maintaining the
signs will not exceed the cost of constructing and maintaining
each sign.  Currently, the fees are $400 and $600 respectively;

(5)  Prohibits a bridge or portion of a highway from being named
after more than one person, event, place, or organization.  Each
person, event, place, or organization will only be eligible for
one bridge or highway designation;

(6)  Directs the highway designation sign fees to be deposited
into the Road Fund instead of the Department of Transportation
Bridge and Highway Sign Fund; and

(7)  Allows the Highways and Transportation Commission to convey
or exchange its interest in land or leasehold for the property's
approximate fair market value.  The commission, at its
discretion, will also be allowed to convey at no cost or exchange
its interest in any land or leasehold that is no longer necessary
for its use to any federal, state, or local governmental entity.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will streamline the
procedure for designating highways and bridges and provide for
the billing at the actual costs of signage.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Stouffer; and Department of
Transportation.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Robert Triplett, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:46 am