REFERENCE TITLE: median barriers; study committee

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

SB 1129

Introduced by

Senator Gabaldón

An Act

establishing the interstate barrier median expansion study committee.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Interstate barrier median expansion study committee; duties; report; repeal

A. The interstate barrier median expansion study committee is established consisting of the following fifteen members:

1. Three members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party.  The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.  Two of the members shall be the chairperson and the ranking minority member on the senate transportation and technology committee or its successor committee.

2. Three members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee. Two of the members shall be the chairperson and the ranking minority member on the house of representatives transportation committee or its successor committee.

3. The director of the department of transportation or the director's designee.

4. The director of the department of public safety or the director's designee.

5. The director of the Maricopa association of governments or the director's designee.

6. The director of the Pima association of governments or the director's designee.

7. The director of the central Arizona governments or the director's designee.

8. The chairperson of the state transportation board or the chairperson's designee.

9. The director of the rural transportation advocacy council or the director's designee.

10. Two public members who have been impacted by a fatality on a highway without median barriers and who are appointed by the governor. One member must reside in the northern portion of this state and one member must reside in the southern portion of this state.

B. The study committee shall conduct hearings on and examine the following:

1. The current landscape, inventory and mapping of median barriers throughout this state.

2. The feasibility of installing median barriers and public safety alternatives throughout highways, interstates and state routes in this state.

3. A historical accounting of fatalities and crossover accidents for the past ten years in this state.

4. Other issues that the study committee deems necessary relating to best practices on:

(a) Installation of median barriers.

(b) Mitigation of fatalities, crossover accidents and severe injury.

(c) Other public safety tools to increase safety on highways, interstates and state routes in this state.

(d) Determination of the criteria to prioritize the installation of median barriers.

C. The department of transportation shall provide the committee with administrative support.  Members of the committee are not eligible to receive reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

D. On or before December 15, 2023, the committee shall submit a report regarding the committee's activities and recommendations for administrative or legislative action to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state and any member of the public who request a copy.  The report shall include a proposed priority list of median barriers to be installed in this state.

E. This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2024.