(1) The department shall assist local units of government in establishing community restitution programs for litter cleanup. Community restitution litter cleanup programs must include the following: (a) Procedures for documenting the number of community restitution hours worked in litter cleanup by each offender; (b) plans to coordinate litter cleanup activities with local governmental entities responsible for roadside and park maintenance; (c) insurance coverage for offenders during litter cleanup activities pursuant to RCW 51.12.045; (d) provision of adequate safety equipment and, if needed, weather protection gear; and (e) provision for including felons and misdemeanants in the program.

(2) Community restitution programs established under this section shall involve, but not be limited to, persons convicted of nonviolent, drug-related offenses.

(3) Nothing in this section shall diminish the department’s authority to place offenders in community restitution programs or to determine the suitability of offenders for specific programs.

(4) As used in this section, “litter cleanup” includes cleanup and removal of solid waste that is illegally dumped.

Effective date—2002 c 175: See note following RCW 7.80.130.

Findings—Intent—1990 c 66: “The legislature finds that the amount of litter along the state’s roadways is increasing at an alarming rate and that local governments often lack the human and fiscal resources to remove litter from public roads. The legislature also finds that persons committing nonviolent, drug-related offenses can often be productively engaged through programs to remove litter from county and municipal roads. It is therefore the intent of the legislature to assist local units of government in establishing community restitution programs for litter cleanup and to establish a funding source for such programs.” [ 2002 c 175 § 51; 1990 c 66 § 1.]