Section 12-O:18 - Rest Areas and Welcome CentersI. The department of business and economic affairs shall be responsible for the staffing of all operational rest areas and welcome centers owned by the department of transportation. There is established in the department a bureau of visitor service within the office of the commissioner to administer this function. The commissioner may consult with local business representatives relative to said function, and shall have the authority to enter into contracts with private or public entities for said function as the commissioner deems appropriate.II. Notwithstanding paragraph I, the department of transportation and the liquor commission may undertake and/or participate in the development of the welcome centers in Hooksett on the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate Route 93 as authorized by the legislature.III. Subject to a memorandum of understanding with the department of transportation, the bureau of visitor service shall provide rest area management and operational services without limitation, to include staffing, training, fiscal management, grounds and building maintenance, and customer service to the traveling public.IV. The bureau of visitor service shall seek to advance initiatives and strategies to reduce state operational responsibility and cost, to provide an improved user experience for visitors, and to focus state resources on customer service for those visitors.Amended by 2019, 346:§§140, 141 eff. 7/1/2019.Added by 2017, 156:40, eff. 7/1/2017. 2017, 156:40, eff. July 1, 2017. 2019, 346:140, 141, eff. July 1, 2019.