FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESHB 1512

                         C 106 L 95

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Expanding the adopt‑a‑highway program.

Sponsors:  House Committee on Transportation  (originally sponsored by Representatives Romero, Chandler, Patterson, Quall, Tokuda, D. Schmidt, Skinner, Chopp, Elliot, Johnson, Ogden, Scott, Blanton, Brown, Hatfield, R. Fisher, Basich, Sheldon, Appelwick, Dellwo, Wolfe, Rust, Regala, Chappell, Kremen, Dickerson, Kessler, Costa, Poulsen and Cody).

House Committee on Transportation

Senate Committee on Transportation

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786-7305).

Background:  In 1990, the Department of Transportation (DOT) began its adopt-a-highway program.  Under the program, participating volunteers agree to remove litter from designated two-mile stretches of highway at least four times each year for a period of two years.

The DOT provides signs identifying the volunteers, safety equipment and training, and trash bags.  The DOT is responsible for disposal of the litter collected. 

Summary:  The Department of Transportation (DOT) is authorized to augment the adopt-a-highway program to include activities such as planting and maintaining vegetation, controlling weeds, removing graffiti and performing other roadside improvement or clean-up activities.

Volunteer groups or businesses choosing to participate in the program must submit a proposal requiring approval by DOT.  The DOT shall not accept proposals that would have the effect of terminating classified employees or classified employee positions.

Participating groups may adopt more than one section of state highway or other state-owned transportation facility.

The DOT is authorized to solicit funding for the adopt-a-highway program that allows private entities to undertake all or a portion of financing for the initiatives.

Participating businesses, who pay their employees or agents to perform adopt-a-highway activities, shall be responsible for industrial insurance medical aid benefits as required by Title 51 RCW.

Votes on Final Passage:

House     96 0

Senate    45 0

Effective:  July 23, 1995