Sponsor Statement for SB 56

Senate Bill 56 amends Alaska Statute Title 19 to allow certain restricted exceptions to current outdoor advertising law in order to better serve the traveling public and provide increased opportunity for Alaskan businesses.

SB 56 establishes a category of outdoor advertising for business entities of significant interest to the traveling public and allows their placement in zoned/unzoned commercial or industrial areas along a state highway, subject to stringent restrictions.

SB 56 provides these directional signs be consistent with format and size standards established by the Department of Transportation and limits their placement as to proximity to the business thereby further mitigating any potential impact on the scenery visible from Alaska's highways.

Other provisions of SB 56 would codify in statute the existing DOT Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) program and clarify language providing municipal authority to enact by ordinance standards for directional signs adopted by the DOT or standards more restrictive than those provided by this measure.

Passage of SB 56 would provide long sought assistance to Alaska businesses dependent on trade with the traveling public as well as enhance the state's ability to be user-friendly for its tourists further promoting a responsive visitor industry. Identical legislation, SB 181 was passed by both bodies (vote was 33-3 in the House, 13-6 in the Senate, an override failed by just one vote) in the 19th Legislature. I respectfully request your support of SB 56.