What's happening
This bill designates the Genesee Road bridge over U.S. Route 219 in Concord, Erie County, as the SGT Brian K. Baker Memorial Bridge.
Why it matters
Honors Local Service and Sacrifice. Naming the bridge after SGT Brian K. Baker serves as a public recognition of his contributions or sacrifice, fostering community remembrance and local pride.
Ceremonial Naming Without Legal Change. The bill specifies that this designation is ceremonial and does not alter the bridge’s official name in state records, minimizing administrative changes while still allowing for public commemoration.
Visible Tribute Through Signage. It mandates the installation and upkeep of signs marking the bridge’s honorary name, ensuring that the tribute is visible to the public and passersby, helping to keep SGT Baker’s memory alive within the community.
Preserves Navigation and Commerce. By clarifying that the official name remains unchanged, the bill prevents confusion for transportation, logistics, and emergency services that rely on consistent infrastructure naming.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Name Bridge for SGT Baker
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 59
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.287
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.421
- Substituted for A10877A
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1907
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Name Bridge for SGT Baker
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor David DiPietro
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9032
IN SENATE
June 14, 2018
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the highway law, in relation to designating a portion of the state highway system, as the "SGT Brian K. Baker Memorial Bridge"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The highway law is amended by adding a new section 344-h to read as follows:
§ 344-h. Portion of the state highway system to be designated as the "SGT Brian K. Baker Memorial Bridge". The bridge on Genesee Road, crossing over U.S. Route 219 in the town of Concord in the county of Erie, shall be designated and known as the "SGT Brian K. Baker Memorial Bridge".
§ 2. The commissioner of transportation shall provide for the installation and maintenance of adequate signing of the state highway system as designated pursuant to section one of this act. However, to avoid confusion and to limit any possible disruption of commerce, the designation called for pursuant to section one of this act shall be one of ceremonial nature and the official name of such bridge shall not be changed as a result of this act.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15996-04-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to desig- nating a portion of the state highway system, as the "SGT Brian K. Baker Memorial Bridge"
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill recognizes the military service of Sergeant Brian K. Baker, an enlisted member of the United States Army who was killed while serving his county in Iraq in 2004, by designating the bridge on Genesee road, crossing over U.S. Route 219, within the Erie County Town of Concord in his honor.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends the highway law to designate the bridge on Genesee road, crossing over U.S. Route 219, in the Erie County Town of Concord to be known as the "SGT Brian K. Baker Memorial Bridge".
Section 2 requires the commissioner of the Department of Transportation to provide for installation and maintenance of adequate signage.
Section 3 establishes the effective date.
Justification
Sergeant Brian K. Baker was a soldier assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Enlisting in the U.S. Army on November 6, 1996, Sgt. Baker had planned to dedicate his career to serving his country in the armed forces. Sgt. Baker was first deployed oversees in 1999, serving in both Bosnia and Kosovo, where he provided security to maintain the peace among the ethnic and civil unrest that beset those regions.
Sgt. Baker also served two tours in Iraq, first being deployed there during the early stages of the war in 2003. Upon his second tour of duty, Sgt. Baker, while on patrol providing security for the Bagdad airport, a critically important airfield that provided a safe entry and departure point for thousands of U.S. troops and supplies, was killed in action. Sgt. Baker's dedication in service to our country and ultimate sacrifice merits this important designation.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.