S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    59
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 8, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  GALLIVAN, BORRELLO, OBERACKER, PALUMBO, RHOADS --
   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 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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD00335-01-5
 S. 59                               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.