41-835.03. Powers and duties

A. The board shall:

1. Receive and evaluate all proposals for changes in or additions to names of geographic features and places of historical significance in this state and after this evaluation designate the most appropriate and acceptable names and spelling of these names for use in maps and other official governmental documents.

2. Receive and evaluate all proposals for naming geographic features in this state for which no generally accepted name is or has been in use and after this evaluation designate a name for use in maps and other official governmental documents.

3. Cooperate with political subdivisions of this state to eliminate the duplication of the names of geographic features that are not of historical significance.

4. Assist and cooperate with the United States board of geographic names in matters relating to names of geographic features and places in this state.

5. Maintain a list of advisers who have expertise in this state's history, geography or culture and consult with those advisers in evaluating proposals.

6. Designate one or more members to act as the state representative to the western states geographic names council.

7. Receive and evaluate all proposals to establish or designate a highway or area as a parkway, historic road or scenic road that is of geographic or historical significance in this state and after this evaluation designate the most appropriate and acceptable names and spelling of these names for use in maps and other official governmental documents. If the parkway, historic road or scenic road to be established or designated is not a state highway or route, the establishment or designation is not effective unless the state board on geographic and historic names or governmental body having jurisdiction over the parkway, historic road or scenic road agrees to the establishment or designation. The state board on geographic and historic names shall notify the director of the department of transportation and the state transportation board when a parkway, historic road or scenic road is given a historic designation pursuant to this section.

B. The board may:

1. Adopt rules for the orderly conduct of business.

2. Initiate proposals for changes in or additions to geographic or historic names in this state. Any proposal initiated by the board shall be evaluated in accordance with the procedures prescribed under section 41-835.04.

C. Notwithstanding any other law, the board shall not:

1. Change street and road names for the purpose of uniformity.

2. Designate a name for a geographic feature that commemorates any person until that person has been deceased at least five years.