Outdoor advertising: City of Los Angeles.

Existing law, the Outdoor Advertising Act, provides for the regulation by the Department of Transportation of an advertising display, as defined, within view of public highways. The act regulates the placement of an off-premises advertising display along highways that generally advertises business conducted or services rendered or goods produced or sold at a location other than the property where the display is located. The act exempts from specified provisions advertising displays located in 2 geographic areas in the City of Los Angeles if those displays meet prescribed conditions and requirements, including the condition that the advertising display is authorized by, or in accordance with, an ordinance adopted by the City of Los Angeles that regulates advertising displays, as provided. Existing law makes the City of Los Angeles primarily responsible for ensuring that an authorized advertising display remains in conformance with the ordinance and the requirements described above, and requires the city to indemnify and hold the department harmless if the city fails to do so. This bill would exempt advertising displays in 3 additional geographic areas in the City of Los Angeles from the specified provisions of the act, subject to those same conditions and requirements. By expanding the responsibilities of the City of Los Angeles related to authorized advertising displays, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Los Angeles. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.