Roach Bill Would Bring Parity to City and County Governments, Protect Property Values

Editor's Note: The following is a press release issued by Sen. Pam Roach's office Tuesday.

Sen. Pam Roach’s bill to grant a city or town the authority to define potentially dangerous litter as a nuisance and require its removal received a unanimous vote Monday from the Senate.  

“This bill, if signed into law, will bring parity to cities which currently cannot enforce nuisance laws,” said Roach, R-Auburn. “Counties can enforce laws aimed at requiring property owners to remove nuisance-level litter. Cities should have that authority, too.”  

Senate Bill 5323 was suggested by the Association of Washington Cities.  

SB 5323 would give local governments the authority to determine that litter and potentially dangerous litter is a nuisance and would require the cost of removal to be borne by the property owner. Roach says this legislation will help preserve property values in areas where homeowners or tenants store wrecked cars or trash in their front yards.  

“Local governments have a better handle of the needs of a community, and this is another tool cities will have to serve those needs.”  

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

More Local News:

Alyssa Decker and Maren Stewart, sophomores from Enumclaw High School, spent the last week working as a page for the Washington State Senate at the Capitol in Olympia.

The girls were among 27 students who served as Senate pages for the sixth week of the 2013 legislative session.

“This is such a great experience and I am excited to take part in it,” Decker said. “I learned so much about the legislative process and what it means to be part of something much bigger than I ever imagined.”  

Said Stewart: “I have had a very fun week and have learned a lot about the legislative process. I was lucky enough to be working as a page in the Senate chamber when Senator Roach’s bill passed. That was an amazing experience.” 

31st District Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, sponsored both Decker and Stewart for the week.  

Decker enjoys the culinary arts, playing guitar and reading. She is the daughter of Beth and Jay Decker of Enumclaw.  

Stewart enjoys participating in her school’s orchestra, playing the piano and roller-skating. She is the daughter of Lisa and Keith Stewart of Enumclaw.

Junior high/middle school and high school students who are interested in the Senate Page Program are encouraged to visit http://www.leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/PageProgram/.  

The Senate Page Program is an opportunity for Washington students to spend a week working in the Legislature. Pages, like Decker and Stewart, are responsible for such tasks as transporting documents between offices as well as delivering messages and mail. Pages spend time in the Senate chamber in addition to attending page school to learn about parliamentary procedure and the legislative process.

Photos of both students with Sen. Roach accompany this story.