1Establishing the Adopt-a-River Program; providing for powers and
2duties of the Department of Conservation and Natural
3Resources; and making an appropriation.

4The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5hereby enacts as follows:

6Section 1.  Short title.

7This act shall be known and may be cited as the Adopt-a-River
8Act.

9Section 2.  Declaration of policy.

10The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

11(1)  Widespread flooding and damage caused by severe
12winter storms greatly damage the riverbeds and streambeds of
13this Commonwealth. Flooding of urban and industrial areas
14often results in the pollution of rivers and the accumulation
15of extraordinary amounts of trash and debris in the

1streambeds, on the stream banks and in floodplain areas.

2(2)  There is a heightened public awareness of
3conservation and the need to protect the rivers of this
4Commonwealth from pollution, damage, trash and debris and to
5provide the resources necessary to restore Pennsylvania's
6rivers and streams.

7(3)  The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission personnel
8and financial resources available for operation of its
9existing Adopt-a-Stream Program are limited. The Pennsylvania
10Fish and Boat Commission program is designed to expand fish
11habitat, angling, boating and aesthetic values of
12Commonwealth waters and would complement the Adopt-a-River
13Act to be administered by the Department of Conservation and
14Natural Resources.

15Section 3.  Definitions.

16The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
17have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
18context clearly indicates otherwise:

19"Department."  The Department of Conservation and Natural 
20Resources of the Commonwealth.

21"Program."  The Adopt-a-River Program established under this 
22act.

23Section 4.  Establishment of Adopt-a-River Program.

24The department shall administer a program designed to remove
25litter from and to beautify the rivers of this Commonwealth. The
26program shall be known as the Adopt-a-River Program. The program
27shall include public informational activities but shall be
28directed primarily toward encouraging and facilitating
29involvement of volunteer groups in litter cleanup work,
30assigning each group to a specific river or stream segment.

1Volunteer groups may include individuals, civic groups and
2businesses.

3Section 5.  Agreements.

4An agreement entered into between the department and a
5volunteer group under section 4 shall include, but not be
6limited to, the following criteria:

7(1)  The volunteer group may request a specific segment
8of the river or stream it wishes to adopt, but the assignment
9shall be at the discretion of the department. In assigning
10sections of a river, the department shall coordinate and
11cooperate with affected Federal, State and local management
12agencies and private landowners. The department may require
13the volunteer groups to notify or obtain written permission
14to perform cleanup activities from landowners immediately
15abutting the waterways.

16(2)  The group shall remove litter along the designated
17river or stream segment at least twice each year or as funds
18permit and in a manner that is safe and appropriate for
19members of the volunteer group.

20(3)  The group shall agree to abide by all rules related
21to the program that are adopted by the department.

22(4)  The volunteer group shall contract to care for the
23designated river or stream segment for at least two years.

24Section 6.  Department responsibilities.

25(a)  Distribution.--The department shall ensure a wide and
26diverse distribution of the funds, materials and information to
27a variety of projects throughout this Commonwealth.

28(b)  Assistance.--The department shall provide trash bags,
29safety information and assistance to the participating volunteer
30groups.

1(c)  Large and heavy items.--The department shall be
2responsible for facilitating contracts for the removal of large
3or heavy items from a river or stream segment as deemed
4necessary and feasible by the department. The department may
5also use funds for tipping fees and disposal costs involved with
6the removal of trash and debris.

7(d)  Private contributions.--The department shall encourage
8private contributions to the program to aid in implementing the
9program to the fullest possible extent.

10Section 7.  Volunteer recognition.

11The department shall create a recognition program to
12acknowledge the efforts of volunteer groups, agencies and
13businesses that participate in the program, which may include
14appropriate signage in areas of high visibility that does not
15detract from the natural beauty of the stream.

16Section 8.  Reporting requirement.

17The department shall report annually to the General Assembly
18on the implementation and progress of the program established by
19this act.

20Section 9.  Regulations.

21The department may adopt the regulations necessary for
22implementation of the program.

23Section 10.  Appropriation.

24The sum of $1,000,000, or as much thereof as may be
25necessary, is appropriated to the Department of Conservation and
26Natural Resources for the fiscal year July 1, 2013, to June 30,
272014, to carry out the provisions of this act.

28Section 11.  Effective date.

29This act shall take effect in 120 days.