SS SCS HB 1196 -- TRANSPORTATION FUNDING; BILLBOARDS

TRANSPORTATION FUNDING

This bill:

(1)  Removes the 2008 expiration date for the six-cent gas tax
increase adopted in 1992;

(2)  Authorizes the Department of Transportation to enter into
three pilot design-build projects.  Two of the design-build
projects will be selected from the 1992 15-Year Plan projects.
The authority to enter into the projects expires on July 1, 2012,
unless extended;

(3)  Increases the amount of aviation jet tax revenues which may
be deposited into the Aviation Trust Fund from $5 million to $6
million;

(4)  Extends the expiration date on the aviation jet fuel tax to
December 31, 2008;

(5)  Changes the state/local funding match formula under the
aeronautics program from 80%/20% to 90%/10%;

(6)  Increases the fees for motor vehicle licenses renewed
biennially from $4 to $5 beginning August 28, 2002.  Beginning
July 1, 2003, licenses renewed annually are increased from $2.50
to $3.50 and biennial licenses are increased from $5.00 to $7.50.
Beginning July 1, 2003, fees for six-year driver's licenses are
increased from $4 to $5.  Beginning July 1, 2003, all Department
of Revenue branch offices will be required to collect the same
fees charged by fee offices;

(7)  Modifies the language regarding the deposit of unclaimed
aviation fuel refunds;

(8)  Eliminates the requirement that road projects be bid in
sections not to exceed 10 miles;

(9)  Caps, beginning in Fiscal Year 2004, the amount of revenue
all agencies receive from the Transportation Department Fund at
the total amount appropriated for Fiscal Year 2001, except for
the State Highway Patrol and actual costs incurred by the Office
of Administration for or on behalf of the State Highway Patrol
and employees of the Department of Transportation.  Appropriation
to the State Highway Patrol from the fund will be made in
accordance with the Missouri Constitution.  This money may be
used by the State Highway Patrol only to administer and enforce
state motor vehicle laws or traffic regulations.  Beginning July
1, 2007, any activities or functions conducted by the State
Highway Patrol not related to enforcing or administering state
motor vehicle laws or traffic regulations will not be funded by
the Transportation Department Fund.  The State Auditor must
annually audit and examine the appropriation made to the State
Highway Patrol to determine whether the appropriations are
actually being used for administering and enforcing state motor
vehicle and traffic regulation pursuant to the constitution.  The
State Auditor will be required to report the audit findings
annually to the General Assembly.

BILLBOARD REVISIONS

The bill updates requirements of federal law to include primary
highways as of June 1, 1991.  Tri-vision, projection, and
changeable message signs are specifically allowed, subject to
Department of Transportation regulations.  The bill allows
cutouts and extensions on nonconforming signs and makes existing
stacked signs legal nonconforming.  When stacked signs were
prohibited in 1999, the statute provided that existing signs were
not conforming, meaning they could be rebuilt.  By making
existing signs legal nonconforming, the signs can be phased out
over time as they need replacing.  The bill increases the minimum
spacing between signs on all primary and interstate highways from
500 feet to 1,400 feet and modifies the definition of "unzoned
commercial and industrial land" by expanding the commercial
activity area from 600 feet to 750 feet on either side of a
qualifying business.  Billboards in areas zoned agricultural are
allowed if they meet certain requirements.  The bill also
eliminates the opposite side of the road as part of the unzoned
commercial areas on primary highways and interstates.

Regarding billboard regulation, the bill also:

(1)  Requires businesses to have the presence of an owner or
employee on the premises for at least 20 hours per week to be
considered a valid business when determining whether a property
is commercial or industrial;

(2)  Increases the original permit fee to erect a billboard from
$28.50 to $200.

(3)  Increases biennial inspection fees to $50 on August 28,
2002; $75 on August 28, 2003; and $100 on August 28, 2004;

(4)  Allows for the non-compensated removal of billboards for
failing to pay fees over 12 months;

(5)  Increases the amount of time to cure a billboard violation
from 30 to 60 days;

(6)  Requires actual notice of a violation before removal of a
sign; and

(7)  Requires vegetation permits to be issued according to
current department rules and regulations.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:00 am