PRINTER'S NO. 1573

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 1355 Session of 1991


        INTRODUCED BY HASAY, GEORGE, BUNT, JAROLIN, LEE, STUBAN, HERMAN,
           BELFANTI, GODSHALL, CAWLEY, NAHILL, ARGALL, VROON,
           E. Z. TAYLOR, GEIST, R. C. WRIGHT, CIVERA, BELARDI, PHILLIPS,
           BUSH, HALUSKA, FOX, STABACK, CORNELL, KUKOVICH AND JOHNSON,
           MAY 8, 1991

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CONSERVATION, MAY 8, 1991

                                     AN ACT

     1  Establishing a volunteer litter patrol program to be
     2     administered by the Department of Environmental Resources;
     3     and providing for the appointment and powers and duties of
     4     patrol members.

     5     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     6  hereby enacts as follows:
     7  Section 1.  Short title.
     8     This act shall be known and may be cited as the Volunteer
     9  Litter Patrol Law.
    10  Section 2.  Definitions.
    11     The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
    12  have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
    13  context clearly indicates otherwise:
    14     "Department."  The Department of Environmental Resources of
    15  the Commonwealth.
    16     "Secretary."  The Secretary of Environmental Resources of the
    17  Commonwealth.


     1  Section 3.  Volunteer Litter Patrol.
     2     The department shall establish in each county a Volunteer
     3  Litter Patrol to enforce the littering laws of this
     4  Commonwealth.
     5  Section 4.  Appointment.
     6     Members of the Volunteer Litter Patrol shall be appointed by
     7  the secretary. Members shall be of good moral character and
     8  shall possess such judgment for proper law enforcement as the
     9  secretary deems necessary. Members shall take an oath of office,
    10  before an officer of the department as the secretary shall
    11  direct. The department shall supply all badges, identification
    12  cards, citations, books and other necessary equipment.
    13  Section 5.  Powers and duties.
    14     (a)  Citations.--A member may issue a littering citation to
    15  any person who litters within view of the patrol member.
    16     (b)  Disposition of fines.--Fifty percent of the fines
    17  collected as a result of a citation issued under this section
    18  shall be deposited in the Litter Abatement Fund.
    19  Section 6.  Litter Abatement Fund.
    20     There is hereby established a special restricted fund in the
    21  Treasury Department to be known as the Litter Abatement Fund to
    22  which shall be credited appropriations made by the General
    23  Assembly other than appropriations for the expense of
    24  administrating this act, grants and fines collected pursuant to
    25  this act. The department shall request from the fund such
    26  amounts as are authorized pursuant to this act.
    27  Section 7.  Reimbursement program.
    28     The department shall establish a program to reimburse members
    29  of volunteer litter patrols for expenses incurred in the
    30  performance of their duties on the basis of a per diem rate and
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     1  limited mileage rate.
     2  Section 8.  Rules and regulations.
     3     The department shall, in the manner provided by law,
     4  promulgate the rules and regulations necessary to carry out this
     5  act.
     6  Section 9.  Appropriations.
     7     (a)  Department.--The sum of $30,000 is hereby appropriated
     8  to the Department of Environmental Resources to carry out the
     9  purpose of providing material and supplies required by section
    10  4.
    11     (b)  Fund.--The sum of $100,000 is hereby appropriated to the
    12  Litter Abatement Fund.
    13  Section 10.  Repeals.
    14     All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are
    15  inconsistent with this act.
    16  Section 11.  Effective date.
    17     This act shall take effect in 60 days.









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