Brief (1)
SB 478 amends the Junkyard and Salvage Control Act to delete county and township roads and city streets from provisions of the law. The net effect of the amendments is that the law would restrict anyone from operating a junkyard or storing ten or more wrecked cars within 1,000 feet of the nearest edge of any right of way of a state highway unless properly screened or otherwise excepted. City, county, and township roads are deleted from the restrictions.
Background
The bill was supported by Senator Clark and several others. Proponents said that Kansas law was enacted in 1967 to comply with the 1965 federal Highway Beautification Act. The federal law requires automobile graveyards with ten or more inoperable vehicles to be screened from view if located within 1,000 feet of all federal and primary and interstate highways. The Kansas law, however, went further and included local government roads and streets. Proponents said the restrictions were not needed and covered car collections which were not junk.
The bill was opposed by the Kansas Association of Counties and the Kansas Association of Planning and Zoning Officials.
A Kansas Department of Transportation official said the state only investigates sites that are reported to them.
The fiscal note stated the bill would result in a loss of revenue of approximately $3,200. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html