HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2513

BYRepresentatives 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 REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS JANUARY 25, 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).

Litter Control Account:  The Model Litter Control and Recycling Act levies a litter tax of one and one-half hundredths of one percent on manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers of products related to the litter stream.  The litter tax is collected by the Department of Revenue; proceeds are deposited in the litter control account within the state treasury.  Funds from the litter control account are to be used by the Department of Ecology for the following litter control activities:  1) Between 40 and 50 percent are to be used in employing youth for litter cleanup; 2) Between 20 and 30 percent are to be used for increasing public education and awareness related to litter control; and 3) Between 20 and 30 percent are to be used in fostering private local recycling efforts.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  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.  DOC must give priority to placing persons convicted of non-violent drug- related offenses into community service litter cleanup programs.

Ten percent of the Litter Control Account must be distributed to local governments for the purpose of establishing and operating community service litter cleanup programs.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The section requiring certain counties to establish charges for the availability of solid waste collection service was deleted.  The distribution of funds within the Litter Control Account was modified to provide 10 percent of total funding for local government community service litter cleanup programs.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 26, 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.