(A) To provide effective, statewide litter removal, reduction and prevention, and litter law enforcement, the commission shall develop a Strategic State Plan for Litter, which must be balanced and comprehensive, but flexible and dynamic in order to be revised and expanded to encompass new innovations, methods, and resources.

(B)(1) The plan must address the overall goal of reducing litter through developing coordinated, cost-effective, and efficient methods of litter removal, litter reduction and prevention, and litter law enforcement.

(2) To perform litter removal activities, the plan must:

(a) identify and prioritize sites for litter removal and determine ways to expand the pool of individuals performing litter removal;

(b) identify and coordinate state agencies, local governments, and private profit and nonprofit organizations that will engage in litter removal and identify their roles and responsibilities in the performance of litter removal including the responsibility of removal of animal carcasses;

(c) facilitate the development of policies and procedures to be utilized by state agencies, local governments, and private profit and nonprofit organizations for litter removal including, but not limited to, scheduling and coordinating litter removal, providing transportation and supervision of individuals performing litter removal, and determining methods and systems for the litter removal process, including the pickup of collected, removed litter; and

(d) develop and facilitate the use of interagency agreements or memoranda of agreements under which state agencies, local governments, and private profit and nonprofit organizations can coordinate and cooperate in fulfilling their litter removal obligations under the plan.

(3) To carry out litter reduction and prevention, the plan must:

(a) identify and evaluate existing public education and awareness programs and campaigns for continuation, modification, or consolidation;

(b) publicize and promote participation in litter reduction and prevention programs and campaigns; facilitate the communication, coordination, and cooperation among state agencies, local governments, private profit and nonprofit organizations, business, and industry participating in litter reduction and prevention programs and campaigns; and

(c) conduct research on the development of new and innovative public awareness and education programs including the development of litter programs for schools and community organizations and the development of public awareness through media outlets and other public means.

(4) To increase the enforcement of litter law violations, the plan must:

(a) educate law enforcement and the judiciary about the detrimental impact of litter in this State and the role and importance of enforcing litter laws;

(b) publicize and promote existing methods of effective reporting of litter law violations;

(c) conduct research and evaluate how other states and jurisdictions have increased enforcement of litter laws.

(5) The plan must include the awarding of meaningful recognition and effective incentives to promote and encourage participation in appropriate litter removal, reduction and prevention, and litter law enforcement programs and campaigns.

HISTORY: 2015 Act No. 8 (H.3035), Section 2, eff April 2, 2015.