A. The cost associated with signage related to the naming of highways and bridges on the state highway system shall be paid by the group sponsoring or requesting the sign. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the naming of highways and bridges on the state highway system designed to honor:
1. Members of the United States Armed Forces who were killed while participating in contingency operations;
2. Members of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol fallen in the performance of their duties;
3. Peace officers certified pursuant to Section 3311 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes fallen in the performance of their duties; and
4. First responders as defined by Section 1-2506.1 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes fallen in the performance of their duties.
B. As used in this section, the term "contingency operation" means a military operation that:
1. Is designated by the Secretary of Defense as an operation in which members of the armed forces are or may become involved in military actions, operations or hostilities against an enemy of the United States or against an opposing military force; or
2. Results in the call or order to, or retention on, active duty of members of the uniformed services under Section 688, 12301(a), 12302, 12304, 12304a, 12305 or 12406 of Title 10 U.S.C., Chapter 15 of Title 10 U.S.C., Section 712 of Title 14 U.S.C., or any other provision of law during a war or during a national emergency declared by the President or Congress.
C. The Department of Transportation shall promulgate rules establishing a procedure to assess and collect the cost of the signs. The assessment of cost shall include the cost of the initial erection of the sign as well as the potential replacement or reconstruction of the sign. The cost of these signs shall be based on an average of the cost of signs erected during the preceding fiscal year, as reported by the Department of Transportation.
Added by Laws 2011, c. 8, § 1, emerg. eff. April 4, 2011. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 369, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2016, c. 257, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Laws 2017, c. 311, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2017.