HB 531 – AS INTRODUCED
2007 SESSION
08/01
HOUSE BILL 531
AN ACT establishing a tourism radio sign program.
SPONSORS: Rep. Chandler, Carr 1; Rep. Lerandeau, Ches 6; Rep. Carolyn Brown, Carr 1; Rep. Buco, Carr 1; Rep. Butler, Carr 1
COMMITTEE: Resources, Recreation and Development
This bill establishes a tourism radio sign program. This bill grants the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development rulemaking authority for the purposes of the program.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
07-0530
08/01
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven
AN ACT establishing a tourism radio sign program.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Sections; Tourism Radio Sign Program. Amend RSA 12-A by inserting after section 44 the following new sections:
12-A:44-a Tourism Radio Sign Program Established. There is established in the department of resources and economic development, a tourism radio sign program to encourage radio broadcast stations in New Hampshire to provide programming that broadcasts tourism information and advertises such radio broadcast stations on signs along the highways of the state. The commissioner of the department of resources and economic development shall adopt rules under RSA 541-A for approving radio stations that meet the qualifications of the program under RSA 12-A:44-a through 12-A:44-d.
12-A:44-b Participating Radio Stations.
I. The director of travel and tourism development, department of resources and economic development, shall confirm the qualifications of a radio station to be eligible for a tourism radio sign within 30 business days of receipt of a request.
II. Prior to approval for a tourism radio sign, an initial broadcast content plan shall be submitted to and approved by the director. Twice per year, as determined by rule, each radio station whose frequency is advertised by a tourism radio sign shall submit to the director the actual broadcast content from at least 6 hours of one day in the past 6 months for review.
III. The director shall forward his or her approval to the administrator of the traffic bureau, department of transportation, who, upon receipt of such approval, shall produce and install a tourism radio sign as described in RSA 12-A:44-d within 30 business days.
12-A:44-c Broadcast Content.
I. The entire content of the broadcast of the station shall be dedicated to visitor and tourism information for the area covered by the station.
II. At least half of the broadcast content every hour shall be public services announcements or content provided by or for nonprofit organizations or governmental agencies. Commercial content shall also be oriented toward visitor information, and may not exceed the other half of the programming.
III. Broadcast content shall not include music programs or talk shows unless the music and talk information is related to the visitor and tourism information.
IV. The station shall be capable of providing and shall provide real-time traffic information when warranted and requested by the New Hampshire department of transportation or local and state police.
12-A:44-d Signs.
I. Information on the signs advertising stations participating in the tourism radio sign program according to RSA 12-A:44-a - RSA 12-A:44-d shall include, at a minimum, the frequency of the station and the wording such as “Visitor Information” or “Tourist Information.” A station’s slogans or call letters may not be displayed.
II. The sign shall be a minimum 4 feet high and 8 feet wide and letters on the sign shall be a minimum 13 inches in height.
III. The radio station or sponsoring organization shall bear the actual cost of production and installation of the sign.
IV. No more than one sign may be placed in each direction of travel on any one highway.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.