SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No. 1435
with committee amendments
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
DATED: OCTOBER 18, 2018
The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 1435.
As amended by the committee, this bill creates a “Viticulture Trail Sign Program” to provide awareness of, and directional guidance to, viticulture in the State. The location of the signs would support a trail-like path of wineries and other viticulture locations.
Specifically, the Department of Transportation (DOT), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, would create the “Viticulture Trail Sign Program.” A person may apply to the DOT to have viticulture trail signs installed to identify and direct persons to wineries and other viticulture locations on all eligible roads, including State roads.
The DOT, in consultation with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts in the Department of State, would establish a visual art competition, for aesthetically pleasing, original art to be displayed on the viticulture trail signage. The DOT would establish the terms of the competition, including the rules of the competition and submission requirements. The DOT, in consultation with the council, would select the art to be displayed. The DOT, with the council, would publicize the competition to attract artwork submissions, and may expend funds as may be appropriated or made available for that purpose.
The DOT would install the viticulture trail signs as soon as practicable, after completion of the design competition and production of the signs.
As amended by the committee, this bill is identical to Assembly No. 3643 (1R).
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
The committee amended the bill to make technical changes to clarify that “department” refers to the Department of Transportation. These amendments make this bill identical to Assembly No. 3643 (1R).