§ 13.28 Lyme and tick-borne disease warning signs. Within one hundred twenty days of the effective date of this section, the office shall perform an assessment of state parks, including trails, to determine where it is appropriate to install signage to warn park users of possible Lyme and tick-borne infections. The assessment shall include, but shall not be limited to, considerations related to the installation of signage in areas of new or increased contact with ticks reported to the office, and, in consultation with the state department of health, an evaluation of any relevant data on tick-borne diseases. Such assessment shall be updated every three years, or earlier as deemed necessary by the office and a summary of such assessment shall, within sixty days of completion, be posted by the office on its website. The office shall thereafter install and maintain signs at all state-managed parks, including, but not limited to, trail entryways and campgrounds, as necessary based on such assessment, warning individuals that ticks may be found in such areas and may result in Lyme disease or other tick-borne diseases. Such office may use models already in use throughout the state when determining the design for such signage. For the purposes of this section, "trail" shall include footpaths, bike ways, snowmobile trails, horse trails, cross country ski trails, roads and other rights-of-way suitable for hiking, strolling, cycling, horseback riding, skiing and other means of motorized and non-motorized travel for recreational purposes and shall include combinations and systems of trails, including connecting and side trails, and trails leading to scenic and recreational areas located within and maintained by the office.
