To enact section 5533.00 of the Revised Code to require supportive resolutions from affected local governments to name highways by statute, to allow local governments to erect appropriate markers naming highways, and to prohibit the use of state funds to erect new markers naming state highways.

Section 1. That section 5533.00 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 5533.00.  (A)(1) Legislation proposing enactment by statute of a distinctive name for a bridge or a portion of a highway shall be supported by a resolution from the governing legislative body of each county, township, or municipal corporation in which the bridge is located or through which the portion of the highway being named extends, endorsing the proposed name.

(2) Except as may otherwise be specifically provided by law, after the effective date of this section, the director of transportation shall not be required to implement any legislation that names a bridge or a portion of a state highway unless the proposed name is supported by a resolution from the governing legislative body of each county, township, or municipal corporation in which the bridge is located or through which the portion of the state highway being named extends.

(B)(1) The director of transportation may erect markers along a bridge or state highway indicating a name enacted by statute that becomes effective after the effective date of this section only if the department of transportation receives contributions sufficient to pay all costs of manufacturing, erecting, and maintaining the markers. The department shall not accept contributions under this section unless it first has determined that placement of the markers at the designated location is permissible under applicable laws and in accordance with the directives for the signing of named memorial highways in the manual adopted by the department under section 4511.09 of the Revised Code. Any money received by the department for these purposes shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of the state highway operating fund. The department may continue to repair, replace, and maintain any markers in place on the effective date of this section without receiving contributions to pay such costs.

(2) Any county, township, or municipal corporation that supports by a resolution a name for the bridge or highway enacted by statute, at its own expense, may erect markers indicating the name of the bridge or highway within its own jurisdiction, but any marker so erected shall be permissible under applicable laws and in accordance with the directives for the signing of named memorial highways in the manual adopted by the department of transportation under section 4511.09 of the Revised Code.