1999 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 359 – Hwys/rights-of-way, certain, gating

HOUSE BILL NO. 359

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Daily Data Tracking History



H0359...............................................by REVENUE AND TAXATION
 HIGHWAYS - RIGHTS-OF-WAY - Amends existing law to extend the definition of
"improved highways" and "public rights-of-way"; and to revise the
conditions and procedures for lawful barricades or gating of highways and
public rights-of-way by counties and highway districts.

03/09    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
03/10    Rpt prt - to Transp
03/15    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/16    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/17    3rd rdg - PASSED - 66-1-3
      AYES -- Alltus, Barraclough, Barrett, Bell, Bieter, Black, Boe,
      Bruneel, Callister, Campbell, Chase, Clark, Cuddy, Deal, Denney,
      Field(13), Field(20), Gagner, Geddes, Gould, Hadley, Hammond,
      Hansen(23), Hansen(29), Henbest, Hornbeck, Jaquet, Jones, Judd,
      Kellogg, Kempton, Kendell, Kunz, Lake, Limbaugh, Linford, Loertscher,
      Mader, Marley, McKague, Meyer(Duncan), Mortensen, Moyle, Pischner,
      Pomeroy, Reynolds, Ridinger, Ringo, Sali, Schaefer, Sellman, Smith,
      Smylie, Stevenson, Stoicheff, Stone, Taylor, Tilman, Tippets, Trail,
      Watson, Wheeler, Williams, Wood, Zimmermann, Mr Speaker
      NAYS -- Robison
      Absent and excused -- Crow, Ellsworth, Montgomery
    Floor Sponsor - Wood
    Title apvd - to Senate
03/17    Senate intro - 1st rdg - to Transp
03/18    Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/19    2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
    Rules susp - FAILED - 15-19-1
      AYES--Andreason, Boatright, Bunderson, Dunklin, Frasure, Ingram,
      McLaughlin, Richardson, Riggs, Risch, Schroeder, Stegner, Stennett,
      Wheeler, Whitworth
      NAYS--Branch, Burtenshaw, Cameron, Crow, Danielson, Darrington,
      Davis, Deide, Geddes, Hawkins, Ipsen, Keough, King, Lee, Noh, Sandy,
      Sorensen, Thorne, Twiggs
      Absent and excused--Parry
    Filed with Chief Clerk

Bill Text


H0359


                                                                        
 ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
Fifty-fifth Legislature                 First Regular Session - 1999
                                                                        

                             IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 359

                            BY REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE

 1                                        AN ACT
 2    RELATING TO HIGHWAYS; AMENDING SECTION 40-110, IDAHO CODE, TO  FURTHER  DEFINE
 3        "IMPROVED  HIGHWAY"  AND  TO  MAKE TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AMENDING SECTION
 4        40-117, IDAHO CODE, TO FURTHER DEFINE "PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY"  AND  TO  MAKE
 5        TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; AND AMENDING SECTION 40-2320, IDAHO CODE, TO REVISE
 6        THE  CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES FOR LAWFUL BARRICADES OR GATING OF HIGHWAYS
 7        AND PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY BY COUNTIES AND HIGHWAY DISTRICTS.

 8    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:

 9        SECTION 1.  That Section 40-110, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
10    amended to read as follows:

11        40-110.  DEFINITIONS -- I.
12        (1)  "Improved  highway" means a  highway that is  a graded and
13    drained earth traveled way or better, to include one  (1)    graded
14    and  graveled  or  with  paved surface, and a graded and drained earth highway
15    means a traveled way of natural earth, aligned and graded to permit reasonably
16    convenient use by motor vehicles, and drained by a longitudinal and transverse
17    system, natural or artificial, sufficient to prevent serious impairment of the
18    highway by surface water.  Improved highways  meeting  the  standards  of
19    this  section,  shall  be considered in determining the certified mileage of a
20    county or highway district for the purpose of funding as provided  in  section
21    40-709(2)(c)  and  (3)(c),  Idaho Code. For the purpose of certification, if a
22    city corporate boundary follows the centerline of an  improved  highway,  one-
23    half  (1/2)  of  the mileage for each highway surface along the length of said
24    city boundary shall be included in the county or highway  district  certifica-
25    tion.  If  a  county or highway district boundary follows the centerline of an
26    improved highway, mileage will be determined by agreement of the entities  or,
27    if  there  is  no  agreement,  then one-half (1/2) shall be attributed to each
28    entity. Highways laid out and marked to include four (4) or more travel  lanes
29    shall  be considered as two (2) highways for the purposes of certification. An
30    improved highway may be gated or barricaded as provided  in  section  40-2320,
31    Idaho Code. 
32        (2)  "Individual" means a person who is not a member of a family.
33        (3)  "Industrial  activities."  (See  "Unzoned  commercial  or  industrial
34    areas," section 40-122, Idaho Code)
35        (4)  "Industrial  areas,  unzoned." (See "Unzoned commercial or industrial
36    areas," section 40-122, Idaho Code)
37        (5)  "Information center" means any area or  site  established  and  main-
38    tained  at  a safety rest area on an interstate or primary highway by or under
39    the supervision or control of the department, where panels for the display  of
40    advertising and informational signs may be erected and maintained.
41        (6)  "Interchange area" means the commencing or ending at the beginning of
42    pavement  widening  at  the  exit  or  entrance to the main traveled way of an
43    interstate, primary freeway, or turnpike project.


                                      2

 1        (7)  "Interstate system" or "interstate highway" means any portion of  the
 2    national  system  of interstate and defense highways located within the state,
 3    as officially designated or as may be hereafter so designated,  by  the  Idaho
 4    transportation  board, and approved by the secretary of transportation, pursu-
 5    ant to the provisions of title 23, U.S. Code, "Highways " .  "
 6    

 7        SECTION  2.  That  Section  40-117, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 8    amended to read as follows:

 9        40-117.  DEFINITIONS -- P.
10        (1)  "Person" includes every natural person, firm,  fiduciary,  copartner-
11    ship,  association, corporation, trustee, receiver or assignee for the benefit
12    of creditors.
13        (2)  "Place." (See "Maintain," section 40-114, Idaho Code)
14        (3)  "Primary system" or "primary highway" means any portion of the  high-
15    ways  of the state, as officially designated, or as may hereafter be so desig-
16    nated, by the Idaho transportation board, and approved  by  the  secretary  of
17    transportation,   pursuant  to   the  provisions  of   title  23,  U.S.  Code,
18    "Highways " . " 
19        (4)  "Public  highway  agency"  means the state transportation department,
20    any city, county, highway district or other political subdivision of the state
21    with jurisdiction  over  public  highway  systems  and  public  rights  -
22    of - way.
23        (5)  "Public  highways" mean s  all highways open to public use
24    in the state, whether maintained by the state or by any county,  highway  dis-
25    trict,  city,  or  other  political subdivision. (Also see "Highways," section
26    40-109, Idaho Code)
27        (6)  "Public right - of - way" means a right  -
28    of - way  open to the public and  under the juris-
29    diction  of a  public   local  highway agency, where the
30     public   local  highway agency  has  not  formally
31    opened the right-of-way as a public highway and where the local highway agency
32      has  no  obligation  to construct or maintain said  public 
33    right - of - way  when used by  the  public  
34    for vehicular traffic.  A public right-of-way is a right-of-way which was
35    originally intended for development as a highway and was accepted on behalf of
36    the public by deed of purchase, fee simple title, authorized easement, eminent
37    domain, platted subdivision, declassification of a highway or by validation of
38    a  federal  land right-of-way. Local highway agencies may expend funds for the
39    maintenance of a public right-of-way. However, public rights-of-way shall  not
40    be  considered  as  improved highways for counties and highway districts to be
41    eligible to receive  funds  from  the  highway  distribution  account  or  the
42    restricted  highway  fund. A public right-of-way may be barricaded or gated as
43    provided in section 40-2320, Idaho Code. 

44        SECTION 3.  That Section 40-2320, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
45    amended to read as follows:

46        40-2320.   BARRICADES OR  GATES --  PENALTIES  
47    HIGHWAYS  AND  PUBLIC  RIGHTS-OF-WAY  . (1) No  barricade or 
48    gate s  shall be allowed on any  public  highway  ,
49    except on highways running through land subject to overflow to an extent as to
50    remove  the  fences.  When allowed they shall be erected and maintained at the
51    expense of the owner or occupant at whose request or for  whose  benefit  they


                                      3

 1    were  erected.  If  the  expense  is not paid, the gate shall be removed as an
 2    obstruction.
 3        (2)  Any person who leaves a gate open, or who willfully and unnecessarily
 4    rides over ground adjoining the highway on which the gate  is  erected,  shall
 5    forfeit  treble  damages to the injured party   or public right-of-
 6    way under the jurisdiction of a county or highway district, unless  authorized
 7    by the appropriate county or highway district.
 8        (2)  A  county  or highway district may seasonally barricade or gate high-
 9    ways or public rights-of-way. Provided however, the commissioners,  except  in
10    an  emergency,  or during construction or maintenance, first shall, by resolu-
11    tion, declare their intention to seasonally barricade any  highway  or  public
12    right-of-way.  The  resolution shall state the justification and conditions of
13    the barricade.
14        (3)  The commissioners may on their own initiative,  or  any  resident  or
15    property  holder  within  a  county  or highway district system, including the
16    state of Idaho, any of its subdivisions, or any agency of the federal  govern-
17    ment  may  petition  the  respective commissioners to seasonally barricade any
18    highway or public right-of-way within their highway system.
19        (4)  The commissioners shall establish a hearing date or dates on the pro-
20    posed seasonal barricade.
21        (5)  The commissioners shall prepare a public notice stating their  inten-
22    tion to hold a public hearing to consider the proposed seasonal barricade of a
23    highway or public right-of-way which shall be made available to the public not
24    later  than  thirty  (30)  days  prior to any hearing and mailed to any person
25    requesting a copy not more than three (3) working days after such a request.
26        (6)  At least thirty (30) days prior to any hearing scheduled by the  com-
27    missioner  to consider a seasonal barricade of any highway or public right-of-
28    way, the commissioners shall mail notice by United States mail to known owners
29    and operators of an underground facility, as defined in section 55-2202, Idaho
30    Code, that lies within the highway or public right-of-way.
31        (7)  At least thirty (30) days prior to any hearing scheduled by the  com-
32    missioners to consider a seasonal barricade of any highway or public right-of-
33    way,  the commissioners shall mail notice to owners of record of land abutting
34    the portion of the highway or public right-of-way proposed for a seasonal bar-
35    ricade at their addresses as shown on the  county  assessor's  tax  rolls  and
36    shall  publish  notice  of  the hearing at least two (2) times, if in a weekly
37    newspaper, or three (3) times, if in a daily newspaper, the last notice to  be
38    published at least five (5) days and not more than twenty-one (21) days before
39    the hearing.
40        (8)  At the hearing, the commissioners shall accept all information relat-
41    ing to the proceedings. Any person, including the state of Idaho or any or its
42    subdivisions,  or  any  agency  of the federal government, may appear and give
43    testimony for or against a seasonal barricade.
44        (9)  After completion of the proceedings and consideration of all  related
45    information,  the commissioners shall decide whether the seasonal barricade of
46    the highway or public right-of-way is in the public interest of the applicable
47    highway jurisdiction. The decision whether or not to seasonally  barricade  or
48    gate  the  highway  or  public  right-of-way shall be written and supported by
49    findings of fact and conclusions of law. The conditions of  the  petition  and
50    resolution  must state if the seasonal barricade needs to be on a year-to-year
51    basis. Amendments to the petition and resolution can be made by  commissioners
52    at  the  request  of  any resident or property holder in the county or highway
53    district waiving  the public hearing and public comment period.
54        (10) From any such decision, a resident  or  property  holder  within  the
55    county  or highway district system, including the state of Idaho or any of its


                                      4

 1    subdivisions or any agency of the federal government, may appeal to  the  dis-
 2    trict  court  of  the  county  in  which the highway or public right-of-way is
 3    located pursuant to section 40-208, Idaho Code.
 4        (11) If the commissioners determine that a highway or public  right-of-way
 5    be  seasonally  barricaded,  they shall cause to be erected a sign identifying
 6    the appropriate highway jurisdiction, and if necessary  conditions  of  barri-
 7    cade.
 8        (12) No  highway  or public right-of-way or parts thereof shall, except in
 9    an emergency, or during construction or maintenance, be barricaded  so  as  to
10    leave  any real property adjoining or serviced by the highway or public right-
11    of-way without access to an established highway or public right-of-way.
12        (13) In the event of barricade, rights-of-way or easements may be reserved
13    for the continued use of existing sewer, gas, water, or similar pipelines  and
14    appurtenances,  or other underground facilities as defined in section 55-2202,
15    Idaho Code, for ditches or canals and appurtenances, and for  electric,  tele-
16    phone and similar lines and appurtenances.
17        (14) Until a seasonal barricade is authorized by the commissioners, public
18    use  of the highway or public right-of-way may not be restricted or impeded by
19    encroachment or installation of any barricade restricting public  use,  or  by
20    the  installation  of signs or notices that might tend to restrict or prohibit
21    public use. Any person violating the provisions of this  subsection  shall  be
22    guilty of a misdemeanor.
23        (15) Any person who removes a barricade or opens a gate which was approved
24    as  provided  in this section, without authorization of the appropriate county
25    or highway district, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor .

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact


                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                                 
                             RS09194
This bill amends the definition of "Improved Highway" in
determining certified mileages of a county or highway district.

This bill also amends the definition of "Public right-of-way." It
permits local highway agencies to expend funds on public rights-of-way, but public right-of-way mileage shall not be considered
as improved highways for funding purposes.

Provides for seasonal gating of highways and public rights-of-way
by counties and highway districts through a process that includes
public notification and hearings.

                           FISCAL NOTE

There will be no impact of the General Fund, nor on the Highway
Distribution Account or the Restricted Highway Account.

CONTACT: Rep. JoAn Wood
         332-1000
         
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ FISCAL NOTE   Bill No.      H 359