HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1429

 

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                    Agriculture & Ecology

 

Title:  An act relating to littering.

 

Brief Description:  Penalizing cigarette discard.

 

Sponsors:  Representatives Sump, O'Brien, Sullivan, Mielke, Mulliken and Sherstad.

 

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

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

 

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 Substitute 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. 

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill established a $500 penalty for any litter infraction involving a tobacco product without regard to its potential to cause a fire.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

 

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  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.