Bill > A4794

Introduced Session

This bill requires the Division of Travel and Tourism in the Department of State (division) to establish a campaign to promote the use of plastic wrapping on utility boxes located at intersections throughout the State to display tourism advertisements. The tourism advertisements are required to be of Statewide or local importance. The bill defines "plastic wrapping" to mean panels of vinyl or other flexible substrates that are used to wrap a surface or object and that may include digital large format printing technology to display a color or design. In establishing the campaign, the division is required to: (1) coordinate with the Department of Transportation to develop a list of intersections within the State that have a utility box; (2) seek permission from, and coordinate with, the entities that own and maintain the utility boxes; (3) develop eligibility criteria for utility boxes that are permitted to display tourism advertisements via plastic wrapping and a process for selecting which utility boxes are to be plastic wrapped; (4) develop a process for selecting tourism advertisements to be displayed via plastic wrapping on utility boxes, which process may include, but not be limited to, an application process for private persons, businesses, and local government entities to submit State and local tourism advertisements to the division and a process for the division to develop and select State and local tourism advertisements; and (5) contract with third party entities to provide plastic wrapping services to display the selected advertisements. The bill requires the division to ensure that the campaign complies with all applicable State and federal laws and any applicable municipal ordinances related to signage. The bill also requires the division to publish information related to the campaign on the division's Internet website, including information concerning the processes of selecting the utility boxes to be plastic wrapped and the advertisements to be displayed on the utility boxes. Finally, the bill requires the division to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of the campaign in promoting State and local tourism through the use of plastic wrapping on utility boxes located at intersections throughout the State.

Committee Categories

Alex Sauickie (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee (on 09/19/2024)

Official Document