Florida 2024 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H0061 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 01/08/2024

                    This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives. 
STORAGE NAME: h0061.TMS 
DATE: 1/8/2024 
 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS  
 
BILL #: HB 61    Transportation Facility Designations 
SPONSOR(S): Hinson 
TIED BILLS:   IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 806 
 
REFERENCE 	ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or 
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF 
1) Transportation & Modals Subcommittee 	Walker Hinshelwood 
2) Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations 
Subcommittee 
   
3) Infrastructure Strategies Committee   
SUMMARY ANALYSIS 
State law authorizes legislative designations of transportation facilities, such as bridges, interchanges, or 
portions of roads, for honorary or memorial purposes or to distinguish a particular facility. Legislative 
designations do not change the official names of the facilities and do not require local governments and private 
entities to change street signs, mailing addresses, or 911 emergency telephone system listings to account for 
the designations. The Department of Transportation (DOT) may not erect markers for a designation unless the 
appropriate city or county commission enacts a resolution supporting the designation.  
 
The bill designates the “Dylan Roberts Memorial Crosswalk” in Alachua County. Under the bill, DOT must erect 
suitable markers for the designation.   
 
The bill will have an insignificant negative fiscal impact to the State Transportation Trust Fund associated with 
erecting suitable markers for the designation. The cost can be absorbed within DOT’s existing resources. 
 
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.    STORAGE NAME: h0061.TMS 	PAGE: 2 
DATE: 1/8/2024 
  
FULL ANALYSIS 
I.  SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS 
 
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES: 
Present Situation 
 
Transportation Facility Designations  
Under current law, the Legislature may designate a transportation facility, such as a bridge, 
interchange, or portion of a road, for honorary or memorial purposes or to distinguish a particular 
facility. Legislative designations do not officially change the existing names of the facilities and do not 
require local governments or private entities to change street signs, mailing addresses, or 911 
emergency telephone-number system listings to account for the designations.
1
 
 
Regarding the naming of state buildings and other facilities, state law provides that except as 
specifically provided by law, state buildings, roads, bridges, parks, recreational complexes, and other 
similar facilities may not be named for a living person.
2
   
 
Transportation Facility Markers 
When the Legislature establishes transportation facility designations, the Department of Transportation 
(DOT) is required to place a marker at each terminus or intersection of the highway segment or bridge 
designated and may erect other markers it deems appropriate for the designated transportation facility.
3
 
Markers may not be erected until the appropriate city or county commission passes a resolution in 
support of the particular designation. Additionally, if the designated facility is located in multiple cities or 
counties, each affected local government must pass a resolution in support of the designation before 
DOT can install the markers.
4
  
 
Dylan Roberts 
On October 27, 2021, four-year-old Dylan Roberts was struck by a car while he was crossing University 
Avenue to return home from Fred Cone Park. To honor his memory, a crosswalk was installed across 
East University Avenue between Northeast 26th Terrace and Southeast 26th Terrace in Alachua 
County.
5
 
 
Effect of the Bill 
 
The bill designates the pedestrian-activated lighted crosswalk on that portion of East University 
Avenue/S.R. 26 between Northeast 26th Terrace and Southeast 26th Terrace in Alachua County as 
“Dylan Roberts Memorial Crosswalk”. The bill directs DOT to erect suitable markers.  
 
B. SECTION DIRECTORY: 
Section 1: Designates “Dylan Roberts Memorial Crosswalk”; directs DOT to erect suitable markers.  
 
Section 2: Provides an effective date of July 1, 2024.  
                                                
1
 S. 334.071(1), F.S.  
2
 S. 267.062(1), F.S.  
3
 S. 334.071(2), F.S. 
4
 S. 334.071(3), F.S. 
5
 Seth Johnson, Gainesville Commission honors Chief Jones, remembers Dylan Roberts, Mainstreet Daily News (Oct. 19, 
2023), https://www.mainstreetdailynews.com/govt-politics/gainesville-commission-honors-tony-jones-remembers-dylan-
roberts (last visited Dec. 4, 2023).   STORAGE NAME: h0061.TMS 	PAGE: 3 
DATE: 1/8/2024 
  
II.  FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT 
 
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT: 
 
1. Revenues: 
None. 
 
2. Expenditures: 
DOT estimates a cost of $1,800 per designation for the appropriate markers, which provides for two 
signs per designation at $900 per sign.
6
 Therefore, the bill has an estimated negative fiscal impact 
of $1,800 to the State Transportation Trust Fund. This cost can be absorbed within existing DOT 
resources.
7
 
 
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: 
 
1. Revenues: 
None. 
 
2. Expenditures: 
None. 
 
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR: 
None. 
 
D. FISCAL COMMENTS: 
None. 
 
III.  COMMENTS 
 
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES: 
 
 1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision: 
Not applicable. This bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.  
 
 2. Other: 
None. 
 
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY: 
None.  
 
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS: 
None. 
IV.  AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES 
 
                                                
6
 Email from Jack Rogers, Legislative Affairs Director, Department of Transportation, FW: road designation sign costs, 
(Oct. 10, 2023).  
7
 Id.