NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10792A
SPONSOR: Bailey TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system to Clara H. Barton
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To dedicate a portion of state route 63 in the village of Dansville,
Livingston County to Clara H. Barton.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section I: Amends the highway law by adding a new section 343-ee to
dedicate a portion of the state highway system to Clara H. Barton.
Section II: Provides that the commissioner of transportation shall
provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the
state highway system as dedicated pursuant to section one of this act,
provided that such signage shall state "Highway Dedicated to Clara H.
Barton", provided that the dedication shall be one of ceremonial nature
and the official name of such highway shall not be changed as a result
of this act.
Section III: Sets the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
The amended version of this bill removes "American Red Cross Founder" on
the signage the Department of Transportation will install.
JUSTIFICATION:
Clarissa (Clara) Harlowe Barton was a pioneer, nurse, educator, and
humanitarian who transformed the delivery of disaster relief and wartime
medical aid in the United States.
Born in 1821, in a small farming community in Massachusetts, Clara began
her career as a teacher. She later worked in the United States Patent
Office as the first women to hold a federal government job. During the
American Civil War, she found her true calling. Known as the" Angel of
the Battlefield," she personally tended to wounded soldiers on the front
lines and provided much needed supplies, often risking her own life to
save others.
In the 1870s, Barton learned about the recently formed Red Cross humani-
tarian organization in Europe. Upon this discovery, she was determined
to ensure that the United States have its own version of this group.
Clara served as President of the American branch of the society, with
the first local Red Cross Chapter being founded on August 22, 1881, in
the village of Dansville, New York. This very first Chapter still stands
in the Village, preserving her tireless work and legacy. In honor of
her undeniable place in not just New York, but national history, this
legislation dedicates a portion of state route 63 in Dansville, New
York, to Clara H. Barton. This dedication is located in the village
where it all began, serving as a reminder of Clara Barton's lifelong
commitment to the humanitarian cause.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10792--A
IN ASSEMBLY
April 1, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BAILEY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system to Clara H. Barton
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 343-ee
2 to read as follows:
3 § 343-ee. Portion of the state highway system to be dedicated to Clara
4 H. Barton. All that portion of the state highway constituting state
5 route 63 in the village of Dansville, county of Livingston, from its
6 intersection with Zerfass Road to its intersection with Hubbard Lane
7 shall be dedicated to Clara H. Barton.
8 § 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the instal-
9 lation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system
10 as dedicated pursuant to section one of this act, provided that such
11 signage shall state "Highway Dedicated to Clara H Barton". However, to
12 avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce, the
13 dedication called for pursuant to section one of this act shall be one
14 of ceremonial nature and the official name of such highway shall not be
15 changed as a result of this act.
16 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14497-03-6
