FINAL BILL REPORT
SB 5767
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
C 118 L 09
Synopsis as Enacted
Brief Description: Making nonsubstantive changes clarifying outdoor burning provisions of the Washington clean air act.
Sponsors: Senators Rockefeller, Pridemore, Regala and Shin.
Senate Committee on Environment, Water & Energy
House Committee on Environmental Health
Background: The Washington Clean Air Act (CAA, RCW chapter 70.94), enacted in 1967 and revised many times, authorizes the Department of Ecology and local air pollution control authorities to regulate air quality. It is suggested that some CAA provisions – including limits on outdoor burning of residential yard waste, land clearing debris, agricultural material such as crop residue, and controlled burning in forests – have become difficult to grasp without careful analysis, and should be rewritten to improve clarity.
Summary: An intent section provides that the purpose of the act is to make technical, nonsubstantive changes to outdoor burning provisions of the CAA to improve clarity, and that no provision may be construed as a substantive change to the CAA.
CAA outdoor burning provisions are consolidated and reorganized for codification in a new “Outdoor Burning” subchapter. The act makes technical, nonsubstantive changes to current law by:
reorganizing existing sections and subsections and creating new sections and subsections;
deleting obsolete and inaccurate language and references to previously-repealed sections;
updating archaic forms; and
incorporating language from another RCW title to clarify existing requirements.
Votes on Final Passage:
Senate | 48 | 0 | |
House | 98 | 0 |
Effective: July 26, 2009