(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Department” means the Department of Commerce.
(3) “Program” means the Tourist Area and Corridor Signage Program.
(b) There is a Tourist Area and Corridor Signage Program.
(c) The purpose of the Program is to create a system of supplemental guide signs to direct motorists to eligible individual attractions by directing the motorists first to groups of attractions.
(d) The Administration, in collaboration with the Department, shall administer the Program.
(e) (1) (i) The Administration and the Department shall develop standards and procedures for determining the eligibility of an attraction for a sign.
(ii) If the Department provides an initial approval of an attraction’s application based on the criteria established under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the Department, in coordination with the requesting attraction, shall prepare a signage plan and submit the signage plan to the Administration for review.
(2) (i) The Administration shall review the signage plan for compliance with federal, State, and local laws and regulations and right–of–way laws and regulations.
(ii) In reviewing a signage plan, the Administration may consult with other State agencies and offices.
(iii) 1. As part of the review required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, the Administration shall investigate whether there is space available at the proposed site along the State highway for a sign for the attraction.
2. Approval of a signage plan is subject to space availability based on the Administration’s regulations and requirements.
(3) (i) 1. If the Administration approves a signage plan and issues a required permit to the attraction, the attraction shall design, fabricate, and install the signs in the signage plan using standards and specifications approved by the Administration.
2. The attraction shall bear all costs for the design, fabrication, and installation of the signs in the signage plan.
(ii) An attraction that applies for a sign shall pay an amount the Administration considers appropriate for the review of each sign included in the signage plan and the issuance of all required permits.
(f) (1) The Administration may charge an attraction a reasonable annual administrative fee to administer and manage the Program for the duration that each sign in the signage plan is installed.
(2) (i) An attraction’s sign may be removed by the Administration if the attraction fails to pay the annual administrative fee.
(ii) The attraction shall be responsible for maintaining, removing, and replacing signs at the direction of the Administration if an existing approved sign is determined to be noncompliant with Program requirements for reasons including damage, fading, or safety concerns.
(iii) The Administration may remove any attraction sign that does not comply with the requirements of the Program.
(iv) An attraction whose sign is removed under subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph shall resubmit new or replacement signage for review and approval.
(g) (1) The Administration may amend the Program if the Administration determines that the Program may result in a sanction by the Federal Highway Administration, including a decrease in federal funds provided to the State for highway use.
(2) The Administration shall notify the following legislative committees at least 30 days before amending the Program to avoid a sanction:
(i) The Senate Finance Committee;
(ii) The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee;
(iii) The House Environment and Transportation Committee; and
(iv) The House Appropriations Committee.
(h) (1) To be eligible for signage, an attraction may not, based on a determination by the Administration and the Department, already be well–signed on a Tourist Area Corridor.
(2) An attraction may not bring reputational harm to the State.
(i) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, a sign developed under the Program may include only the following elements:
(i) The name of the attraction;
(ii) A directional arrow to guide individuals to the attraction; and
(iii) The approximate mileage to the attraction from the location of the sign.
(2) A sign may include a generic symbol used to represent a category of attractions identified by the Department if, on the request of the Department, the Administration determines that there is a generic symbol approved for use in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.