FINAL BILL REPORT

SHB 2513

                                   C 66 L 90

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

Senate Committee on Environment & Natural Resources

SYNOPSIS AS ENACTED

BACKGROUND:

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.

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 felonies and misdemeanors, including some non-violent drug-related offenses, may be eligible for community service.

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 grants to local governments for a wide variety of litter and solid waste management activities.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Corrections shall assist cities and counties in establishing community service programs for litter cleanup.  The programs must include procedures for documenting community service hours, plans to coordinate with local governments, provision of workers' compensation and safety equipment, and provisions to use felons and misdemeanants.  The community service programs must involve persons convicted of non-violent drug related offenses.

The Department of Ecology is directed to provide grants to local governments to establish, operate, and evaluate community service litter clean up programs.  The Department of Ecology must report on the effectiveness of these programs to the appropriate standing committee of the Legislature by December 31, 1991.

VOTES ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      House 93   0

      Senate    48     0

EFFECTIVE:June 7, 1990