2022 Regular Session

BySenators Fortunato, Hasegawa, Padden, J. Wilson, and L. Wilson

Prefiled 12/07/21.Read first time 01/10/22.Referred to Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology.

AN ACT Relating to litter pickup during maintenance closures; and amending RCW 70A.200.170.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 70A.200.170 and 2021 c 231 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The department is the coordinating and administrative agency working with the departments of natural resources, revenue, transportation, and corrections, and the parks and recreation commission in developing a biennial budget request for funds for the various agencies' litter collection programs.

(2) Funds may be used to meet the needs of efficient and effective litter collection and illegal dumping programs identified by the various agencies. The department shall develop criteria for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the waste reduction, litter control, and recycling programs being administered by the various agencies listed in RCW 70A.200.140, and shall distribute funds according to the effectiveness and efficiency of those programs. In addition, the department shall approve funding requests for efficient and effective waste reduction, litter control, and recycling programs, provide funds, and monitor the results of all agency programs.

(3) All agencies are responsible for reporting information on their litter collection programs as requested by the department.

(4) The department shall contract with the department of transportation to schedule litter prevention messaging and coordination of litter emphasis patrols with the Washington state patrol. ((Additionally,))The department shall also coordinate with the department of transportation ((may coordinate with the department)) to conduct litter pickup during scheduled maintenance closures as situations allow.