HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1429

                    As Passed Legislature

Title:  An act relating to littering.

Brief Description:  Penalizing cigarette discard.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Agriculture & Ecology (originally sponsored by  Representatives Sump, O'Brien, Sullivan, Mielke, Mulliken and Sherstad).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Agriculture & Ecology:  2/6/97, 2/13/97 [DPS].

Floor Activity:

Passed House:  3/11/97, 97‑0.

Passed Legislature.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ECOLOGY

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Chandler, Chairman; Parlette, Vice Chairman; Schoesler, Vice Chairman; Linville, Ranking Minority Member; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Cooper; Delvin; Koster; Mastin; Regala and Sump.

Staff:  Rick Anderson (786-7114).

Background:  The penalty for littering is a civil infraction.  Littering in amounts of one cubic foot or less is subject to a penalty of $50.  Littering in amounts greater than one cubic foot is subject to penalty of up to $250 and a cleanup fee of $25 per cubic foot of litter.

Summary of Bill:  The penalty for litter infractions involving a cigarette, cigar, or other tobacco product is increased to $500 dollars, if the illegally discarded object is capable of starting a fire. 

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  When people litter with cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products they pose a great environmental risk.  Fires caused as a result of this type of littering can increase erosion, sedimentation, loss of habitat, air pollution, as well as a loss of jobs.  Litter penalties should better reflect the risk that this type of littering poses.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Representative Sump, prime sponsor.