HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESSB 6649

BYSenate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Conner, Hansen and Bauer)

Clarifying the status of Adopt-a-Highway signs.

House Committe on Transportation

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (27)

      Signed by Representatives R. Fisher, Chair; Baugher, Vice Chair, Eastern Washington; R. Meyers, Vice Chair, Western Washington; Schmidt, Ranking Republican Member; Wood, Assistant Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Betrozoff, Cantwell, Cooper, Day, G. Fisher, Forner, Gallagher, Hankins, Haugen, Heavey, Jones, Nelson, Prentice, Prince, Smith, D. Sommers, Todd, Walker, S. Wilson and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Robin Rettew (786-7306)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Transportation (DOT) began a pilot Adopt-A-Highway program in 1989.  This program encourages volunteers to pick up litter on a designated two mile section of highway for two years.  The DOT erects signs with the organization's name on both ends of the designated section of highway.  Although the DOT is currently erecting such signs, concern has been expressed that the RCW's governing signing should be amended to specifically permit Adopt-A-Highway signs.

SUMMARY:

The Scenic Vistas Act, which regulates signing on interstate, primary, and scenic highways, is amended to permit Adopt-A-Highway signs along the right-of-way of the designated two-mile section of highway adopted by a volunteer group.  Both state and local governments may erect Adopt-A-Highway signs.

Sponsors of the Adopt-A-Highway program are not defined.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Robert Berger, Department of Transportation.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Litter control is a growing problem in Washington state.  Allowing volunteers to clean up a designated section of state highway instills civic pride and helps to keep Washington a beautiful state to live in and to visit.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 97 - 3/1