This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h1341.TMS
DATE: 1/23/2024
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: HB 1341 Transportation Facility Designations
SPONSOR(S): Robinson, W.
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 868
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 “Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto Memorial Highway” in Manatee 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: h1341.TMS PAGE: 2
DATE: 1/23/2024
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
Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto
On November 6, 2019, United States Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto died during training in Seoul,
South Korea.
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Panipinto was assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd
Brigade, 1st Calvary Division out of Fort Hood, Texas.
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Effect of the Bill
The bill designates that portion of U.S. 19 between Palm View Road and Terra Ceia Road in Manatee
County as “Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto Memorial Highway”. The bill directs DOT to erect
suitable markers.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Designates “Army Specialist Nicholas Panipinto Memorial Highway”; 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
My Fallen Soldiers, Panipinto, Nicholas, https://myfallensoldiers.com/2019/11/06/panipinto-nicholasarmy-specialist/ (last
visited Jan. 23, 2024).
6
Brown and Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, Nicholas C. Panipinto Obituary,
https://www.brownandsonsfuneral.com/obituary/nicholas-panipinto (last visited Jan. 23, 2024). STORAGE NAME: h1341.TMS PAGE: 3
DATE: 1/23/2024
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.
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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.
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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
N/A
7
Email from Jack Rogers, Legislative Affairs Director, Department of Transportation, FW: road designation sign costs,
(Oct. 10, 2023).
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Id.