HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2514

BYRepresentatives Walker, Rust, Pruitt, D. Sommers, Phillips, Fraser, Brekke, G. Fisher, Jacobsen, Scott, Leonard, Valle, Betrozoff, Bowman, Winsley, Wineberry, Tate, May, Ferguson and Wolfe

Establishing a state-wide adopt-a-highway litter control program.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (24)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair, Eastern Washington; R. Meyers, Vice Chair, Western Washington; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Cooper, Day, Forner, Gallagher, Hankins, Heavey, Jones, Kremen, Nelson, Prentice, Prince, Smith, D. Sommers, Todd, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Louise Bray Sandison (786-7322)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 7, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Currently, 27 states have established programs allowing volunteer organizations to "adopt-a-highway" to reduce roadside litter.  The Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) has established a pilot program in which nonprofit volunteer organizations agree to remove litter from two-mile sections of highway at least four times each year for a period of two years. In return, the DOT erects permanent signs identifying the group and provides safety vests, hard hats, trash bags, removal of filled bags, temporary signs and initial safety training to the volunteer crews.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Transportation is directed to establish a statewide adopt-a-highway litter control program.  Volunteer organizations may participate, provided their name does not endorse or oppose a particular candidate for public office; advocate a position on a political issue, initiative, referendum or piece of legislation; or include a reference to a political party.

The department shall assign each eligible volunteer organization a specific section of highway for a specific period of time, erect signs with the organization's name on either end of the organization's section of highway, provide safety equipment and training, pay medical aid benefits premiums as provided for in the Industrial Insurance Act, and adopt rules necessary for implementation of this act.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 18, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    John Conrad, Department of Transportation; Gary Peterson, private citizen; Brad Everson, Department of Ecology.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This program will help to reduce litter along state highways.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.