H.B. 152

             1     

HIGHWAY SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM ACT

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: John Knotwell

             5     
Senate Sponsor: J. Stuart Adams

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Transportation Code by authorizing the Department of
             10      Transportation to establish a sponsorship program.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides definitions;
             14          .    authorizes the Department of Transportation to establish a sponsorship program to
             15      allow for private sponsorship of certain department operational activities or other
             16      highway-related services or programs;
             17          .    requires revenues generated from a sponsorship to be deposited into the
             18      Transportation Fund to be used for certain transportation purposes;
             19          .    requires the Department of Transportation to adopt a policy on sponsorship
             20      agreements that is applicable to certain department operational activities or other
             21      highway-related services or programs;
             22          .    grants the Department of Transportation rulemaking authority to make and enforce
             23      rules regarding size, placement, and content restrictions for sponsorship
             24      advertisements; and
             25          .    establishes restrictions for certain sponsorship advertisements.
             26      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             27          None


             28      Other Special Clauses:
             29          None
             30      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             31      ENACTS:
             32           72-6-401 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33           72-6-402 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34           72-6-403 , Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35     
             36      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             37          Section 1. Section 72-6-401 is enacted to read:
             38     
Part 4. Highway Sponsorship Program Act

             39          72-6-401. Title.
             40          This part is known as the "Highway Sponsorship Program Act."
             41          Section 2. Section 72-6-402 is enacted to read:
             42          72-6-402. Definitions.
             43          As used in this section:
             44          (1) "Acknowledgment sign" means a sign that:
             45          (a) is intended to inform the traveling public that a highway-related service, product, or
             46      monetary contribution has been sponsored by a person, firm, or entity; and
             47          (b) meets all design and placement guidelines for acknowledgment signs as set forth in
             48      the most recent edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and
             49      Highways adopted by the department in accordance with Section 41-6a-301.
             50          (2) "Sponsorship agreement" means an agreement or contract between the department
             51      or its contractors and a person, firm, or entity that includes a provision authorizing an
             52      acknowledgment of the person, firm, or entity that is providing:
             53          (a) the highway-related service or product; or
             54          (b) a monetary contribution to pay for a portion of the highway-related service or
             55      product.
             56          Section 3. Section 72-6-403 is enacted to read:
             57          72-6-403. Highway sponsorship program -- Sponsorship advertisement
             58      restrictions -- Rulemaking.


             59          (1) The department may establish a sponsorship program to allow for private
             60      sponsorship of the following department operational activities or other highway-related
             61      services or programs:
             62          (a) traveler information;
             63          (b) rest areas; and
             64          (c) incident management services.
             65          (2) All revenue generated from a sponsorship authorized by this section shall be
             66      deposited into the Transportation Fund created by Section 72-2-102 to be used to:
             67          (a) offset costs associated with providing the service being sponsored; and
             68          (b) support costs associated with operation and maintenance of the state highway
             69      system.
             70          (3) (a) The department shall adopt a policy on sponsorship agreements that is
             71      applicable to all department operational activities or other highway-related services within the
             72      state described in Subsection (1).
             73          (b) The policy described in Subsection (3)(a) shall:
             74          (i) include language requiring the department to terminate a sponsorship agreement if it
             75      determines the sponsorship agreement or acknowledgment sign:
             76          (A) presents a safety concern;
             77          (B) interferes with the free and safe flow of traffic; or
             78          (C) is not in the public interest; and
             79          (ii) describe the sponsors and sponsorship agreements that are acceptable and
             80      consistent with applicable state and federal laws.
             81          (4) A sponsorship authorized by this section:
             82          (a) may not contain:
             83          (i) promotion of any substance or activity that is illegal for minors, such as alcohol,
             84      tobacco, drugs, or gambling;
             85          (ii) promotion of any political party, candidate, or issue; or
             86          (iii) sexual material;
             87          (b) may not resemble a traffic-control device as defined in Section 41-6a-102 ; and
             88          (c) shall comply with federal outdoor advertising regulations in accordance with 23
             89      U.S.C. Sec. 131.


             90          (5) (a) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
             91      the department shall make and enforce rules governing:
             92          (i) the placement and size restrictions for acknowledgment signs at rest areas;
             93          (ii) the placement and size restrictions for sponsorships placed on department incident
             94      management vehicles; and
             95          (iii) other size, placement, and content restrictions that the department determines are
             96      necessary.
             97          (b) The rules made under Subsection (5)(a) shall limit the size of an advertisement to
             98      no more than 35% of the total area of an incident management vehicle.
             99          (6) (a) A sponsorship advertisement shall be painted or affixed by decal on an incident
             100      management vehicle in a manner that complies with rules adopted under Subsection (5).
             101          (b) A commercial advertiser that enters a sponsorship agreement with the department
             102      for the use of space for a sponsorship shall pay:
             103          (i) the cost of placing the sponsorship advertisement on a sign or an incident
             104      management vehicle; and
             105          (ii) for the removal of the sponsorship advertisement after the term of the sponsorship
             106      agreement has expired.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-13-14 2:15 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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