| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to tourist-oriented directional sign |
| 3 | program; creating s. 479.262, F.S.; providing for the |
| 4 | establishment of the program in rural areas; specifying |
| 5 | criteria for the program; permitting establishment of fees |
| 6 | to offset costs; providing that a directional sign site or |
| 7 | location does not create a proprietary or compensable |
| 8 | interest; providing termination of directional sign |
| 9 | permits and change in location sites; providing for |
| 10 | adoption of rules; providing an effective date. |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 13 |
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| 14 | Section 1. Creating section 479.262, Florida Statutes, to |
| 15 | read: |
| 16 | 479.262 Tourist-oriented directional sign program.-- |
| 17 | (1) A tourist-oriented directional sign program to provide |
| 18 | directions to rural tourist-oriented businesses, services, and |
| 19 | activities may be established in rural counties identified by |
| 20 | criteria and population in s. 288.0656 when approved and |
| 21 | permitted by county or local government entities within their |
| 22 | respective jurisdictional areas at intersections on rural and |
| 23 | conventional state, county, or municipal roads. A county or |
| 24 | local government which issues permits for a tourist-oriented |
| 25 | directional sign program shall be responsible for sign |
| 26 | construction, maintenance, and program operation in compliance |
| 27 | with subsection (3) for roads on the state highway system and |
| 28 | may establish permit fees sufficient to offset associated costs. |
| 29 | (2) This section does not create a proprietary or |
| 30 | compensable interest in any tourist-oriented directional sign |
| 31 | site or location for any permittee on any rural and conventional |
| 32 | state, county, or municipal roads. The department or the |
| 33 | permitting entity may terminate permits or change locations of |
| 34 | tourist-oriented directional sign sites as determined necessary |
| 35 | for construction or improvement of transportation facilities or |
| 36 | for improved traffic control or safety. |
| 37 | (3) Tourist-oriented directional signs installed on the |
| 38 | state highway system shall comply with the requirements of the |
| 39 | federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and rules |
| 40 | established by the department. The department may adopt rules to |
| 41 | establish requirements for participant qualification, |
| 42 | construction standards, location of sign sites, and other |
| 43 | criteria necessary to implement this program. |
| 44 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007. |