§ 88-a. Tourism signage task force. 1. There is hereby established a
tourism signage task force consisting of the following members:

(a) the commissioner or his or her designated representative from the
departments of transportation, economic development, environmental
conservation, agriculture and markets and of the office of parks,
recreation and historic preservation;

(b) the chairperson, or his or her designated representative, of the
New York state thruway authority, the adirondack park agency and the
tourism advisory council;

(c) a representative of travel and vacation related business and a
representative of an organization of automobile users and owners
appointed by the governor.

2. The chairman of the task force shall be the commissioner. The
members of the task force may elect a vice chairman, secretary or such
other officers as it may deem necessary for such terms as its members
shall determine.

3. Members of the board, except for those representing New York state
departments, agencies, authorities or councils, shall serve for a term
of two years and may be reappointed in the same manner as provided for
their initial appointment.

4. A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of any business or the exercise of any power
or function of the task force. An act, determination, or decision of the
members present and entitled to vote during the presence of a quorum
shall be held to be the act, determination or decision of the task
force.

5. The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the
chairman. Additional meetings may be called by the chairman subject to
the giving of one week's notice, and shall be called by him at the
request of a majority of the members of the task force.

6. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
service as members. Members of the task force representing state
agencies, departments, authorities or councils shall be compensated for
their actual and necessary expenses by warrant of the comptroller and
voucher of their department, agency, authority or council. Members of
the task force not representing a state department, agency, authority or
council shall, under the warrant of the comptroller and voucher of the
commissioner, or his duly designated agent, be allowed their necessary
and actual expenses incurred in the performance of duty.

7. The task force shall:

(a) identify and define responsibilities with respect to the placement
of tourism related directional and informational signage and promote
inter-agency cooperation in order to encourage a uniform signage policy.

(b) advise the commissioner on the development of a uniform and
comprehensive state policy on tourism related signage and other
traveller information services.

(c) assist in the development of a working plan for the funding,
placement and maintenance of directional and informational signs in
accordance with an established policy on tourism signage.

(d) assist and advise on the preparation, publication and distribution
of a handbook on tourism signage that will identify rules and laws
governing tourism related signage, listing contact points for the public
to use in soliciting information and to apply for placement of tourism
related signage and identifying costs associated with such directional
signage.

(e) advise and assist in the development of an adequate budget for the
commissioner to implement the plan for tourism signage and such other
informational services as are necessary to guide the travelling public.

(f) advise the commissioner on the marking of motor touring trails
designated by statute.

(g) advise the commissioner on scenic, environmental, traffic safety
or other concerns which may supersede the implementation of the tourism
signage plan and policy.

(h) review, evaluate and advise the commissioner on conflicts
associated with overlapping jurisdiction governing signage, limitations
on the placement of signs, and establishing priority for placement of
signage when demand exceeds the available space for directional signage,
and such other issues which may come to the attention of the task force.

(i) evaluate and recommend to the commissioner or the legislature
initiatives to enhance or facilitate the development of a signage policy
or plan.

(j) report on or before January first of each year to the governor,
the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and
the chairman of the appropriate legislative committees on the activities
of the task force with respect to its functions, powers and duties.

8. The task force may request and shall receive from any subdivision,
department, board, bureau, commission, office, agency, or other
instrumentality of the state, or any political subdivision thereof, such
facilities, assistance and data as it deems necessary and desirable for
the proper execution of its functions, powers and duties hereunder. Any
expenses of the task force, including compensation to such personnel as
may be employed by the task force, shall be payable out of moneys
otherwise appropriated to the state department of transportation.