SB 143 — Relating to Adopt-A-Stream Program

SB143EST HVIRGINIA GOLEGISLATURE AMREGULAR #1WisemanSESSION 3383 TheEnrolled CommitteeSenate onBill Government143 OrganizationBy movedSenators toSmith, amendPhillips, theCaputo, billWoodrum, byJeffries, strikingHamilton, everythingTrump, afterMaynard, theRucker, enactingTaylor, clause and insertingMaroney in[Passed lieuJanuary thereof30, the2023; following:

“ARTICLEin 15A.effect 90 days from passage] Enr SB 143 AN ACT to amend and reenact §22-15A-3a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to the Adopt-A-Stream Program;

requiring volunteers 17 years of age or younger be accompanied by an adult;

changing streams eligible for participation in program;

altering process for selecting stream participation in program;

allowing department to approve or deny applications at its discretion;

expanding sources of funding to support program;

lengthening period of stream participation from one to three years;

altering method of collection of stream litter;

and requiring one cleanup of the river prior to road signs being erected.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 15A.

JAMES MANCHIN REHABILITATION ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIONPLAN.ACTION PLAN.

  (a) The Adopt-A-Highway Program was established in the late 1980s to improve the quality of the state’s environment by encouraging public involvement in the elimination of highway litter.

The program offers volunteers the opportunity to take charge of their own environment by making a positive effort to create a cleaner, more aesthetic place in which to live.Inlive. West Virginia there are currently 25,000 volunteers who regularly pick up litter on 4,000 miles of highway.

TheyIn haveWest beenVirginia responsiblethere forare removingcurrently more25,000 thanvolunteers 40who millionregularly poundspick ofup litter sinceon the4,000 programmiles began.(b)of Ashighway. with the Adopt-A-Highway Program, individuals, families, churches, businesses, schools, civic organizations, government agencies, scouting groups, fraternities, and communities may participate in an Adopt-A-Stream Program, which the department shall create and implement.

AnyoneThey whohave isbeen atresponsible leastfor 12removing yearsmore oldthan may40 participatemillion Participantspounds 17 years of agelitter orsince youngerthe mustprogram bebegan. accompanied by an adult.

Any(b) streamAs orwith river that is a part of the WestAdopt-A-Highway VirginiaProgram, Streamindividuals, Partnersfamilies, Programchurches, withinbusinesses, theschools, statecivic oforganizations, Westgovernment Virginiaagencies, isscouting eligiblegroups, forfraternities, adoption,and withcommunities themay exceptionparticipate ofin streamsan orAdopt-A-Stream riversProgram, consideredwhich determinedthe todepartment beshall unsafecreate byand theimplement. department.

Volunteers1 mayParticipants select17 ayears streamof orage river to adopt and then have it approved by the department, or theyyounger may ask the department to suggest an adoptable stream or river Adopted streams or river sections must be ataccompanied leastby onean mileadult. long.

Any stream or river within the state of West Virginia is eligible for adoption, with the exception of streams or rivers determined to be unsafe by the department.

Adopted streams or river sections must be at least one mile long.

The Litter Control Fund, or other sources of funding deemed appropriate by the secretary, may be used to support the Adopt-A-Stream Program.(c)Program. Adoptions are for a period of one year three years, during which time at least one cleanup is required per year.

As(c) volunteersAdoptions pick up litter, bags that have been filled are placedfor ona streamperiod sidesof Collectedthree litteryears, willduring bewhich placedtime at designatedleast locationsone approvedcleanup byis therequired department.per year.

TheCollected departmentlitter maywill coordinatebe withplaced volunteers,at localdesignated authorities,locations andapproved state agencies for removal and disposal by the programdepartment. of collected litter.

GarbageThe bags,department safetymay vests,coordinate safetywith training,volunteers, trafficlocal warningauthorities, signs, and glovesstate areagencies tofor beremoval furnished by the program.(d) Adopted streams or rivers may be identified by a sign at each end of the a location along the adopted section bearing the Adopt-A-Stream logo and thedisposal name of thecollected adopterlitter. after the first cleanup has been completed.

VolunteersGarbage whobags, completesafety onetraining, requiredand littergloves pickupare withinto the one-year first year of the three-year contract period shall be awardedfurnished a certificate of accomplishment signed by the secretary.(e)program. Any stream obstruction or other cause for concern observed by volunteers may be reported to the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Natural Resources, the State Conservation Committee, or the appropriate local county emergency manager.

 (e)(d) (f)Adopted Thestreams secretaryor rivers may proposebe legislativeidentified rulesby fora legislativesign approvalat ina accordancelocation withalong the provisionsadopted section bearing the Adopt-A-Stream logo and the name of pursuantthe toadopter §29A-3-1after etthe seq.first cleanup has been completed.

Volunteers who complete one required litter pickup within the first year of thisthe code.”   AdoptedRejectedthree-year contract period shall be awarded a certificate of accomplishment signed by the secretary.

(e) Any stream obstruction or other cause for concern observed by volunteers may be reported to the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Natural Resources, the State Conservation Committee, or the appropriate local county emergency manager.

(f) The secretary may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of §29A-3-1 et seq.

of this code.