SENATE BILL REPORT

                  ESHB 1512

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                Transportation, March 23, 1995

Title:  An act relating to adopt‑a‑highway programs.

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  3/22/95, 3/23/95 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Owen, Chair; Haugen, Kohl, Morton, Prentice, Prince, Rasmussen, Schow, Sellar and Wood.

Staff:  Jennifer Joly (786-7305)

Background:  In 1990, the Department of Transportation (DOT) began its adopt-a-highway program.  Currently, 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 of Bill:  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 as required by Title 51 RCW.

If this act is not funded in the transportation budget, it is null and void.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.  However, the bill is null and void if not funded in the transportation budget.

Testimony For:  The current adopt-a-highway program allowing volunteers to remove roadside litter is very popular.  An expansion of the program allowing other roadside improvements or rest area maintenance would also contribute to Washington State's sense of civic pride.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Rep. Romero, prime sponsor.