(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Qualified hometown” means a city or unincorporated community that is a governor’s hometown as defined by this section and which has satisfied the requirements of this section; and

(2) “governor’s hometown” means the city or unincorporated community listed in the election records of the secretary of state as the residence of a successful candidate for governor of the state of Kansas the first time such candidate was elected governor.

(b) For all qualified hometowns, the secretary of the Kansas department of transportation shall install governor’s hometown signs at all appropriate locations near the city limits of a city or the edges of an unincorporated community.

The secretary of transportation shall install such governors’ hometown signs only if:

(1) The governing body of the city or the board of county commissioners for the unincorporated community has adopted a resolution requesting the installation of such signs;

(2) the city or unincorporated community is located on a highway which is part of the state highway system; and

(3) the secretary has received sufficient moneys from gifts and donations to reimburse the secretary for the initial cost of installing such signs and an additional 50% of the initial cost to defray future maintenance or replacement costs of such signs.

The secretary of transportation may accept and administer gifts and donations to aid in obtaining and installing governors’ hometown signs.

(c) The secretary of transportation, or the secretary’s designee, shall design the governors’ hometown signs. The size, shape, color, design and content of such signs shall be distinctive and shall be determined by the secretary of transportation, except that such signs shall include: (1) The name of the city or unincorporated community; (2) the governor’s hometown logo; and (3) an indication that such city or unincorporated community is the hometown of one or more governors of Kansas, the name of each governor of Kansas whose hometown is such city or unincorporated community, the numerical designation of each such governor in the succession of governors of Kansas and the years each such governor served as governor of Kansas.

(d) The secretary of commerce, or the secretary’s designee, shall conduct a competition for the design of the governor’s hometown logo. The logo shall include a representation of the dome of the state capitol building. In organizing and conducting such competition, the secretary of commerce shall consult with and cooperate with the executive director of the state historical society, the director of the Kansas creative arts industries commission, Kansas humanities council and such other agencies, persons or organizations as the secretary finds appropriate.

(e) The governing body of any city or the board of county commissioners for any unincorporated community, not located on a highway which is part of the state highway system, may request a governor’s hometown sign from the secretary of transportation which meets the design specifications of subsection (c). Such city or unincorporated community shall reimburse the secretary for the cost of such sign and shall be responsible for the installation, repair, maintenance or replacement of such sign.

(f) (1) The governing body of any city or the board of county commissioners for any unincorporated community which was a territorial capital of Kansas, may request a territorial governor’s sign from the secretary of transportation, subject to the same procedure, conditions and limitations contained in subsections (b) and (e).

(2) The secretary of transportation, or the secretary’s designee, shall design the territorial governor’s signs. The size, shape, color, design and content of such signs shall be distinctive and shall be determined by the secretary of transportation, except that such signs shall include: (1) The name of the city or unincorporated community; and (2) an indication that such city or unincorporated community was a territorial capital of Kansas, the name of each territorial governor of Kansas who served in such territorial capital, the numerical designation of each such governor in the succession of governors of Kansas and the years each such governor served as territorial governor of Kansas.