Highway safety and information program.

Existing law, the Outdoor Advertising Act, provides for the regulation by the Department of Transportation of advertising displays, as defined, within view of public highways. This bill would enact the Highway Safety and Information Act. The bill would authorize the department, subject to federal approval, to enter into an agreement pursuant to a best value competitive procurement process for a project with an entity to construct, upgrade or reconstruct, and operate a network of changeable message signs within the rights-of-way of the state highway system that would include a demonstration phase of the project as a condition precedent to the full implementation of the agreement, as specified. The bill would require the entity with whom the department has entered into the agreement to contract and receive funds for the placement of advertisements, meeting certain standards established by the department, on the changeable message signs when they are not being used by the department. The bill would require revenues derived from the project to be allocated between the department and the entity with whom the department has entered into the agreement and would require those revenues received by the department to be deposited in the State Highway Account, subject to appropriation by the Legislature. The bill would authorize the department to adopt guidelines and procedures relative to advertising on changeable message signs. The bill would require the department to submit a specified report to the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters.