HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2513

BYHouse Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Walker, Rust, D. Sommers, Fraser, G. Fisher, Pruitt, Phillips, Brekke, Betrozoff, Winsley, May, Ferguson and Wolfe)

Providing revenue generating authority to counties to fund roadside litter and illegal dumping.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (8)

      Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; D. Sommers, Ranking Republican Member; G. Fisher, Fraser, Phillips, Van Luven and Walker.

House Staff:Karl Herzog (786-7271)

AS PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 9, 1990

BACKGROUND:

County Litter Cleanup Programs:  Most counties have not established formal litter programs for cleanup along county or city roads; response to litter and illegal dumping problems is on an as- needed basis using road maintenance workers.  Some local governments benefit from the work of local service organizations in litter cleanup activities.

Community Service Litter Cleanup Programs:  The state Department of Corrections (DOC) has worked with the state Department of Transportation (DOT) and local non-profit organizations to develop litter cleanup programs for offenders sentenced to perform community service.  An existing program in King County works as follows:  1) DOT contracts with DOC for litter cleanup along state and interstate highways; 2) DOC refers offenders sentenced with community service time to a non-profit organization; and 3) The non- profit organization runs the actual litter cleanup operation under contract with DOC.

Offenders convicted of drug-related crimes that may be eligible for community service include those convicted of: 1) possession of marijuana or sale of drug paraphernalia (misdemeanor); 2) possession of other drugs such as cocaine or heroin (felony); and 3) selling drugs (felony).

The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is the state agency responsible for administering the Model Litter Control Act and the Solid Waste Management Act.  Ecology currently provides technical assistance and distributes grants to local governments for a wide variety of litter and solid waste management activities.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Corrections (DOC) is directed to assist cities and counties in establishing community service programs for litter cleanup.  Minimum program requirements are specified.

Community service programs must involve persons convicted of non-violent drug related offenses.  The Department of Ecology (Ecology) is directed to provide grants to local government to establish, operate, and evaluate community service litter clean up programs.  Ecology must report to the Legislature by December 31, 1991, on the effectiveness of these programs.

Fiscal Note:      Requested for Substitute Bill February 1, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    (FOR ORIGINAL BILL)  Bill Alkire, Department of Ecology; Nancy Pearson, Washington Citizens for Recycling; and Dave Savage and Karen Portin, Department of Corrections.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Litter cleanup is needed on local roads.  Local governments would do a better job than state government in managing local litter cleanup programs.  Several community service litter cleanup programs are operating successfully.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.