27:5-29 Memorial sign program.

1. a. The Department of Transportation shall establish, consistent with federal law, a fallen police officer, sheriff's officer, EMS worker, and firefighter memorial sign program that shall honor those who lost their lives in the line of duty. The program shall include a process allowing a municipal or law enforcement official or the next of kin of a police officer, sheriff's officer, EMS worker, or firefighter to apply to the department to sponsor a sign memorializing the police officer, sheriff's officer, EMS worker, or firefighter.

b. The applicant shall complete a fallen police officer, sheriff's officer, EMS worker, and firefighter memorial sign program application furnished by the department. The applicant shall include with the application the following information:

(1) The name and title of the individual who was fatally injured as it should appear on the memorial;

(2) The date of the fatality;

(3) The location of the fatality;

(4) An affidavit by the applicant that the individual to be memorialized was a fallen police officer, sheriff's officer, EMS worker, or firefighter who died in the line of duty;

(5) Any police reports or other legal documentation related to the fatality available to the applicant at the time of the application;

(6) The requested location of the proposed memorial sign;

(7) Any other information the Commissioner of Transportation may deem reasonably necessary to include with the application.

c. The department shall, within 180 days of receipt of a properly completed application submitted pursuant to the provisions of subsection b. of this section, make an inspection of the location of the proposed memorial site and send a written decision to the applicant as to whether a sign may be installed at the location of the proposed memorial site in compliance with P.L.2015, c.227 (C.27:5-29 et seq.).

d. The department may charge an application fee to cover necessary costs associated with the department's administration of the fallen police officer, sheriff's officer, EMS worker, and firefighter memorial sign program established pursuant to this section.

L.2015, c.227, s.1.