Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB292 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0292
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 292
8	8	M3 2lr1436
9	9	CF HB 307
10	10	By: Senator Augustine
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 19, 2022
12	12	Assigned to: Finance
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Environment – Packaging Materials – Producer Responsibility 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of requiring certain producers of packaging materials to individually or 3
21	21	as part of a producer responsibility organization submit a certain packaging 4
22	22	materials producer responsibility plan to the Department of the Environment for 5
23	23	review and approval on or before a certain date and in accordance with certain 6
24	24	requirements; prohibiting, on or after a certain date, a producer of certain packaging 7
25	25	materials from selling, offering for sale, distributing, or importing certain packaging 8
26	26	materials unless the producer, individually or as part of a producer responsibility 9
27	27	organization, has an approved producer responsibility plan on file with the 10
28	28	Department; requiring a producer responsibility organization to implement a 11
29	29	producer responsibility plan within a certain amount of time after the Department 12
30	30	approves the producer responsibility plan; establishing a producer responsibility 13
31	31	plan advisory council; authorizing a local government to request reimbursement 14
32	32	from a certain producer that has an approved producer responsibility plan on file 15
33	33	with the Department for certain costs in a certain manner; requiring the Office of 16
34	34	Recycling in the Department to conduct certain statewide recycling needs 17
35	35	assessments in a certain manner and to submit certain reports on the results of the 18
36	36	assessments to the Governor and General Assembly on or before certain dates; and 19
37	37	generally relating to producer responsibility for packaging materials. 20
38	38
39	39	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
40	40	Article – Environment 22
41	41	Section 9–1702 and 9–1707(f) 23
42	42	Annotated Code of Maryland 24
43	43	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 25
44	44
45	45	BY adding to 26
46	46	Article – Environment 27
47	47	Section 9–1702.2; and 9–2401 through 9–2410 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 28
48	48	24. Producer Responsibility for Packaging Materials” 29 2 SENATE BILL 292
49	49
50	50
51	51	Annotated Code of Maryland 1
52	52	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 2
53	53
54	54	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
55	55	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 4
56	56
57	57	Article – Environment 5
58	58
59	59	9–1702. 6
60	60
61	61	(a) There is an Office of Recycling created within the Department. 7
62	62
63	63	(b) The Secretary shall appoint a Director and sufficient staff to perform the 8
64	64	functions of the Office. After July 1, 1989, the number of staff shall be as provided in the 9
65	65	budget. 10
66	66
67	67	(c) The Secretary may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of this 11
68	68	subtitle. 12
69	69
70	70	(d) The Office shall: 13
71	71
72	72	(1) Assist the counties in developing an acceptable recycling plan required 14
73	73	under § 9–1703 of this subtitle and § 9–505 of this title, including technical assistance to 15
74	74	the local governments; 16
75	75
76	76	(2) Coordinate the efforts of the State to facilitate the implementation of 17
77	77	the recycling goals at the county level; 18
78	78
79	79	(3) Review all recycling plans submitted as part of a county plan as 19
80	80	required under § 9–505 of this title and advise the Secretary on the adequacy of the 20
81	81	recycling plan; 21
82	82
83	83	(4) Administer the Statewide Electronics Recycling Program under Part IV 22
84	84	of this subtitle; [and] 23
85	85
86	86	(5) Promote the development of markets for recycled materials and 24
87	87	recycled products in the State in accordance with § 9–1702.1 of this subtitle; 25
88	88
89	89	(6) CONDUCT A STATEWIDE R ECYCLING NEEDS ASSES SMENT EVERY 26
90	90	10 YEARS IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–1702.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 27
91	91
92	92	(7) REVIEW AND APPROVE , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PRODUCER 28
93	93	RESPONSIBILITY PLAN ADVISORY COUNCIL EST ABLISHED UNDER § 9–2405 OF THIS 29
94	94	TITLE, PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY PLANS AND ANNUAL REPORTS SUBMITTED IN 30
95	95	ACCORDANCE WITH SUBTITLE 24 OF THIS TITLE. 31
96	96	SENATE BILL 292 3
97	97
98	98
99	99	(e) Beginning on January 1, 1990, and biannually thereafter, the Office shall, in 1
100	100	coordination with the Maryland Environmental Service, study and report to the Governor 2
101	101	and, subject to § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on: 3
102	102
103	103	(1) The identification and location of recycling centers, including an 4
104	104	analysis of existing recycling centers and the need to expand these facilities or construct 5
105	105	new recycling centers; 6
106	106
107	107	(2) Programs necessary to educate the public on the need to participate in 7
108	108	recycling efforts; 8
109	109
110	110	(3) The economics and financing of existing and proposed systems of waste 9
111	111	disposal and recycling; 10
112	112
113	113	(4) State procurement policies for the purchase of recycled materials; 11
114	114
115	115	(5) Programs necessary to reduce the amount of solid waste generated for 12
116	116	disposal by a State agency or unit; 13
117	117
118	118	(6) The liaison role with local governments, the federal government, and 14
119	119	the private sector; 15
120	120
121	121	(7) The percentage reduction in the amount of solid waste that has been 16
122	122	achieved by each county; and 17
123	123
124	124	(8) Economically feasible methods for the recycling of scrap automobile 18
125	125	tires, batteries, and white goods. 19
126	126
127	127	(f) (1) By December 1, 1988, the Office shall, in coordination with the 20
128	128	Maryland Environmental Service and the Governor’s Task Force on Solid Waste, make 21
129	129	recommendations to the General Assembly for the financing of a comprehensive system of 22
130	130	recycling at the State and local level, including funding for recycling centers, recycling 23
131	131	equipment, recycling education, and marketing strategies. 24
132	132
133	133	(2) After the financing recommendations are made under paragraph (1) of 25
134	134	this subsection, each county may submit to the Office and the Governor a detailed request 26
135	135	for funds necessary to assist in the development and implementation of a recycling plan 27
136	136	under guidelines developed by the Office. 28
137	137
138	138	(g) In studying feasible methods for the management and recycling of used tires 29
139	139	under subsection (e)(9) of this section, the Office of Recycling shall consult with the 30
140	140	appropriate industry, including representatives of: 31
141	141
142	142	(1) Tire manufacturers; 32
143	143
144	144	(2) Tire dealers; and 33
145	145	4 SENATE BILL 292
146	146
147	147
148	148	(3) Tire recyclers. 1
149	149
150	150	9–1702.2. 2
151	151
152	152	(A) IN THIS SECTION , “PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY ORGANIZATION ” HAS 3
153	153	THE MEANING STATED I N § 9–2401 OF THIS TITLE. 4
154	154
155	155	(B) IN ACCORDANCE WITH SU BSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION AND TO CARRY 5
156	156	OUT THE REQUIREMENTS OF § 9–1702(D)(6) OF THIS SUBTITLE, THE OFFICE SHALL 6
157	157	CONDUCT A STATEWIDE RECYCLING NEEDS ASSE SSMENT ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS 7
158	158	THAT INCLUDES : 8
159	159
160	160	(1) AN EVALUATION OF THE CURRENT C APACITY RELATED TO , NEED 9
161	161	FOR, AND ASSOCIATED COSTS OF: 10
162	162
163	163	(I) FUNDING RELATED TO RE CYCLING ACCESS AND 11
164	164	AVAILABILITY; 12
165	165
166	166	(II) COLLECTING AND HAULIN G RECYCLABLE OR 13
167	167	COMPOSTABLE MATERIAL S IN THE STATE; 14
168	168
169	169	(III) PROCESSING RECYCLABLE OR COMPOSTABLE MATER IALS 15
170	170	IN THE STATE; 16
171	171
172	172	(IV) TAKING ADVANTAGE OF F AVORABLE MARKET COND ITIONS 17
173	173	OR OTHER OPPORTUNITI ES FOR INCREASING RE CYCLING OR COMPOSTIN G IN THE 18
174	174	STATE; 19
175	175
176	176	(V) CONSUMER EDUCATION RE GARDING RECYCLING , 20
177	177	COMPOSTING , AND CONTAMINATION RE DUCTION; 21
178	178
179	179	(VI) REUSE INFRASTRUCTURE ; AND 22
180	180
181	181	(VII) COMPOSTING INFRASTRUC TURE; 23
182	182
183	183	(2) AN EVALUATION OF COMM INGLED RECYCLING PRO CESSING 24
184	184	FACILITY WORKER COND ITIONS, WAGES, AND BENEFITS; 25
185	185
186	186	(3) THE AVAILABILITY OF O PPORTUNITIES IN THE RECYCLING 26
187	187	SYSTEM FOR WOMEN AND MINORITY INDIVIDUA LS; 27
188	188
189	189	(4) THE SUFFICIENCY OF LO CAL GOVERNMENT REQUI REMENTS 28
190	190	RELATED TO MULTIFAMI LY RECYCLING SERVICE S AND THEIR IMPLEMEN TATION; 29
191	191	SENATE BILL 292 5
192	192
193	193
194	194	(5) THE SUFFICIENCY OF RE CYCLING EDUCATION PR OGRAMS 1
195	195	RELATIVE TO DESIRED EQUITY OUTCOMES ; 2
196	196
197	197	(6) THE AVAILABILITY OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE RECYCLING 3
198	198	SYSTEM FOR BUSINESSE S IN THE STATE; AND 4
199	199
200	200	(7) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR I MPROVING EQUITY AND EQUITABLE 5
201	201	OUTCOMES FOR UNDERSE RVED POPULATIONS IN THE STATE’S RECYCLING SYSTEM , 6
202	202	INCLUDING RECOMMENDA TIONS FOR NEW RESPON SIBILITIES OF PRO DUCER 7
203	203	RESPONSIBILITY ORGAN IZATIONS AND RECOMME NDATIONS FOR FUNDING THE NEW 8
204	204	RESPONSIBILITIES . 9
205	205
206	206	(C) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2023, AND EACH OCTOBER 1 EVERY 10 10
207	207	YEARS THEREAFTER , THE OFFICE SHALL REPORT O N THE RESULTS OF THE MOST 11
208	208	RECENT ASSESSMENT CO NDUCTED UN DER THIS SECTION TO THE GOVERNOR AND , 12
209	209	IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, THE 13
210	210	GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 14
211	211
212	212	(D) IN CONDUCTING THE ASS ESSMENT REQUIRED UND ER THIS SECTION , 15
213	213	THE OFFICE SHALL CONSULT WITH PRODUCER RESPON SIBILITY ORGANIZATIO NS, 16
214	214	THE PRODUCER RESPONSIB ILITY PLAN ADVISORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED UNDER § 17
215	215	9–2405 OF THIS TITLE , APPROPRIATE LOCAL GO VERNMENTAL ENTITIES , AND 18
216	216	REGIONAL SOLID WASTE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE. 19
217	217
218	218	(E) THE OFFICE SHALL ESTABLIS H AND COLLECT A FEE TO BE PAID BY 20
219	219	PRODUCE R RESPONSIBILITY ORG ANIZATIONS TO COVER THE COSTS ASSOCIATED 21
220	220	WITH CONDUCTING THE ASSESSMENTS REQUIRED UNDER THIS SECTION . 22
221	221
222	222	9–1707. 23
223	223
224	224	(f) (1) There is a State Recycling Trust Fund. 24
225	225
226	226	(2) The Fund shall consist of: 25
227	227
228	228	(i) The newsprint recycling incentive fee; 26
229	229
230	230	(ii) The telephone directory recycling incentive fee collected under § 27
231	231	9–1709 of this subtitle; 28
232	232
233	233	(iii) The covered electronic device manufacturer registration fee 29
234	234	collected under § 9–1728 of this subtitle; 30
235	235
236	236	(IV) ANY FEES COLLECTED FR OM PRODU CER RESPONSIBILITY 31
237	237	ORGANIZATIONS UNDER § 9–1702.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE OR SUBTITLE 24 OF THIS 32 6 SENATE BILL 292
238	238
239	239
240	240	TITLE; 1
241	241
242	242	[(iv)] (V) All fines and penalties collected under this subtitle; 2
243	243
244	244	[(v)] (VI) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and 3
245	245
246	246	[(vi)] (VII) Any other money from any other source accepted for the 4
247	247	benefit of the Fund. 5
248	248
249	249	(3) The Secretary shall administer the Fund. 6
250	250
251	251	(4) The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall 7
252	252	account for the Fund. 8
253	253
254	254	(5) At the end of each fiscal year, any unspent or unencumbered balance in 9
255	255	the Fund that exceeds $2,000,000 shall revert to the General Fund of the State in 10
256	256	accordance with § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. 11
257	257
258	258	(6) In accordance with the State budget, the Fund shall be used only: 12
259	259
260	260	(i) To provide grants to the counties to be used by the counties to 13
261	261	develop and implement local recycling plans; 14
262	262
263	263	(ii) To provide grants to counties that have addressed methods for 15
264	264	the separate collection and recycling of covered electronic devices in accordance with § 16
265	265	9–1703(c)(1) of this subtitle; 17
266	266
267	267	(iii) To provide grants to municipalities to be used by the 18
268	268	municipalities to implement local covered electronic device recycling programs; [and] 19
269	269
270	270	(IV) TO COVER THE COSTS OF THE STATEWIDE RECYCLING 20
271	271	NEEDS ASSESSMENT CON DUCTED UNDER § 9–1702.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 21
272	272
273	273	(V) TO COVER THE COSTS OF PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY PLAN 22
274	274	REVIEW, OVERSIGHT, AND ENFORCEMENT UNDE R SUBTITLE 24 OF THIS TITLE; AND 23
275	275
276	276	[(iv)] (VI) To carry out the purposes of the land management 24
277	277	administration. 25
278	278
279	279	(7) (i) The Treasurer shall invest the money in the Fund in the same 26
280	280	manner as other State money may be invested. 27
281	281
282	282	(ii) Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the 28
283	283	General Fund of the State. 29
284	284
285	285	SUBTITLE 24. PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PACKAGING MATERIALS. 30 SENATE BILL 292 7
286	286
287	287
288	288
289	289	9–2401. 1
290	290
291	291	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 2
292	292	INDICATED. 3
293	293
294	294	(B) “ADVISORY COUNCIL ” MEANS THE PRODUCER R ESPONSIBILITY PLAN 4
295	295	ADVISORY COUNCIL EST ABLISHED UNDER § 9–2405 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5
296	296
297	297	(C) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ” MEANS A PREPACKAGED BEVERAGE 6
298	298	CONTAINER: 7
299	299
300	300	(1) MADE OF ANY MATERIAL , INCLUDING GLASS , PLASTIC, METAL, 8
301	301	CARTON, POUCH, OR ASEPTIC PACKAGING , SUCH AS A DRINK BOX , OR OF 9
302	302	MULTIMATERIALS ; AND 10
303	303
304	304	(2) THE VOLUME OF WHICH I S NOT MORE THAN 5 LITERS. 11
305	305
306	306	(D) (1) “PACKAGING MATERIALS ” MEANS, REGARDLESS OF 12
307	307	RECYCLABILITY , ANY PART OF A PACKAG E OR CONTAINER , INCLUDING MATERIAL 13
308	308	THAT IS USED FOR THE CONTAINMENT , PROTECTION , HANDLING, DELIVERY, AND 14
309	309	PRESENTATION OF A PR ODUCT THAT IS SOLD , OFFERED FOR SALE , IMPORTED, OR 15
310	310	DISTRIBUTED IN THE STATE. 16
311	311
312	312	(2) “PACKAGING MATERIALS ” INCLUDES: 17
313	313
314	314	(I) PRIMARY, SECONDARY , AND TERTIARY PACKAGI NG 18
315	315	INTENDED FOR THE CON SUMER MARKET ; 19
316	316
317	317	(II) SERVICE PACKAGING DES IGNED AND INTENDED T O BE 20
318	318	FILLED AT THE POIN T OF SALE, INCLUDING: 21
319	319
320	320	1. CARRY–OUT BAGS; 22
321	321
322	322	2. BULK GOODS BAGS ; 23
323	323
324	324	3. TAKE–OUT AND HOME DELIVER Y FOOD SERVICE 24
325	325	PACKAGING; AND 25
326	326
327	327	4. PRESCRIPTION AND PHAR MACEUTICAL PACKAGING ; 26
328	328	AND 27
329	329
330	330	(III) BEVERAGE CONTAINERS . 28 8 SENATE BILL 292
331	331
332	332
333	333
334	334	(E) (1) “PRODUCER” MEANS A PERSON THAT MEETS ONE OF TH E 1
335	335	FOLLOWING CLASSIFICA TIONS, IN DESCENDING ORDER OF RESPONSIBILITY : 2
336	336
337	337	(I) A PERSON THAT USES PAC KAGING MATERIALS FOR THE 3
338	338	SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF A PRODUCT UNDER T HE PERSON’S OWN NAME OR BRAND ; 4
339	339
340	340	(II) A PERSON THAT IS A LIC ENSEE OF A TRADEMARK UNDER 5
341	341	WHICH A PACKAGING MA TERIAL IS SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE , DISTRIBUTED, OR 6
342	342	OTHERWISE USED IN A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRIS E IN THE STATE, REGARDLESS OF 7
343	343	WHETHER THE TRADEMAR K IS REGISTERED; OR 8
344	344
345	345	(III) A PERSON THAT IMPORTS A PRODUCT THAT INCLU DES A 9
346	346	PACKAGING MATERIAL A ND THAT IS SOLD , OFFERED FOR SALE , DISTRIBUTED, OR 10
347	347	OTHERWISE USED IN A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRIS E IN THE STATE. 11
348	348
349	349	(2) “PRODUCER” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 12
350	350
351	351	(I) A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; OR 13
352	352
353	353	(II) A NONPROFIT CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION . 14
354	354
355	355	(F) (1) “PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY O RGANIZATION” MEANS: 15
356	356
357	357	(I) A PRODUCER THAT INDIVI DUALLY SUBMITS A PRO DUCER 16
358	358	RESPONSIBILITY PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–2404 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 17
359	359	OR 18
360	360
361	361	(II) A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON THAT IS: 19
362	362
363	363	1. EXEMPT FROM TAXATION UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE 20
364	364	INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; AND 21
365	365
366	366	2. CREATED BY A GROUP OF PRODUCERS TO 22
367	367	IMPLEMENT A PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY PLAN . 23
368	368
369	369	(2) “PRODUCER RESPONSIBILI TY ORGANIZATION ” INCLUDES A 24
370	370	REPRESENTATIVE ORGAN IZATION CREATED BY A GROUP OF PRODUCER 25
371	371	RESPONSIBIL ITY ORGANIZATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–2404(A)(1)(II)2 OF 26
372	372	THIS SUBTITLE. 27
373	373
374	374	(G) “PRODUCER RESPONSIBILI TY PLAN” MEANS A PACKAGING MA TERIALS 28
375	375	PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY PLAN SUBMITTED T O THE DEPARTMENT BY A 29 SENATE BILL 292 9
376	376
377	377
378	378	PRODUCER OR PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ORGAN IZATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH 1
379	379	§ 9–2404 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 2
380	380
381	381	9–2402. 3
382	382
383	383	IT IS THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT THIS SU BTITLE PROVIDE 4
384	384	A FRAMEWORK FOR : 5
385	385
386	386	(1) MODERNIZING AND IMPRO VING WASTE AND RECYC LING SYSTEMS 6
387	387	IN THE STATE, INCLUDING BY FACILIT ATING: 7
388	388
389	389	(I) THE IMPR OVEMENT OF REUSE , COMPOSTING , AND 8
390	390	RECYCLING; 9
391	391
392	392	(II) THE IMPROVEMENT OF RE CYCLING MARKETS ; 10
393	393
394	394	(III) THE REDUCTION OF WAST E; AND 11
395	395
396	396	(IV) AN INCREASE IN RECYCL ING RATES; AND 12
397	397
398	398	(2) REIMBURSING LOCAL GOV ERNMENTS FOR COSTS A SSOCIATED 13
399	399	WITH TRANSPORTING , COLLECTING, AND PROCESSING PACKA GING MATERIALS . 14
400	400
401	401	9–2403. 15
402	402
403	403	(A) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T APPLY TO A PRODUCER THAT : 16
404	404
405	405	(1) (I) GENERATED LESS THAN $1,000,000 IN GROSS REVENUE 17
406	406	DURING THE IMMEDIATE LY PRECEDING CALENDA R YEAR; 18
407	407
408	408	(II) SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE , OR DISTRIBUTED FOR SALE IN 19
409	409	THE STATE DURING THE IMME DIATELY PRECEDING CA LENDAR YEAR LESS THA N 1 20
410	410	TON OF PACKAGING MAT ERIALS; OR 21
411	411
412	412	(III) CONDUCTED ALL OF THE PACKAGING MATERIALS SALES IN 22
413	413	THE STATE DURING THE IMME DIATELY PRECEDING CA LENDAR YEAR AT A SIN GLE 23
414	414	POINT OF RETAIL SALE TH AT WAS NOT SUPPLIED OR OPERATED AS PART OF A 24
415	415	FRANCHISE; AND 25
416	416
417	417	(2) ON REQUEST BY THE DEPARTMENT , PROVIDES TO THE 26
418	418	DEPARTMENT SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO DEMON STRATE THAT THE PROD UCER 27
419	419	MEETS THE CONDITIONS OF THIS SECTION. 28
420	420	10 SENATE BILL 292
421	421
422	422
423	423	(B) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NOT AF FECT THE AUTHORITY O F THE STATE OR A 1
424	424	LOCAL JURISDICTION T O REGULATE THE SALE OR USE OF ANY PACKAG ING 2
425	425	MATERIAL. 3
426	426
427	427	(C) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T PROHIBIT A PRODUCE R RESPONSIBILITY 4
428	428	ORGANIZATION FROM ES TABLISHING A DEPOSIT –RETURN SYSTEM AS ONE 5
429	429	STRATEGY FOR INCREAS ING THE CAPTURE AND RECYCLING OF BEVERAG E 6
430	430	CONTAINERS OR OTHER PACKAGING MATERIALS . 7
431	431
432	432	9–2404. 8
433	433
434	434	(A) (1) (I) ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1, 2024, EACH PRODUCER SHALL , 9
435	435	INDIVIDUALLY OR AS P ART OF A PRODUCER RE SPONSIBILITY ORGANIZ ATION, 10
436	436	SUBMIT A PROD UCER RESPONSIBILITY PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR REVIEW 11
437	437	AND APPROVAL . 12
438	438
439	439	(II) IF MORE THAN ONE PROD UCER RESPONSIBILITY 13
440	440	ORGANIZATION SUBMITS A PRODUCER RESPONSIB ILITY PLAN TO THE 14
441	441	DEPARTMENT : 15
442	442
443	443	1. THE PRODUCER RESPONSI BILITY ORGANIZATIONS 16
444	444	SHALL COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO 17
445	445	ENSURE THAT : 18
446	446
447	447	A. RECYCLING SERVICES FO R RESIDENTS IN THE STATE 19
448	448	ARE PROVIDED IN A SE AMLESS MANNER ; AND 20
449	449
450	450	B. PUBLIC OUTREACH , EDUCATION, AND 21
451	451	COMMUNICATION ARE PR OVIDED IN A CONSISTE NT MANNER; AND 22
452	452
453	453	2. THE PRODUCER RESPONSI BILITY ORGANIZATIONS 23
454	454	MAY CREATE A REPRESE NTATIVE ORGANIZATION TO REPRESENT ALL 24
455	455	PARTICIPATING PRODUC ER RESPONSIBILITY OR GANIZATIONS TO IMPLE MENT THE 25
456	456	REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 26
457	457
458	458	(III) BEFORE SUBMITTING THE PLAN REQUIRED UNDER THIS 27
459	459	SUBSECTION TO THE DEPARTMENT , A PRODUCER OR PRODUC ER RESPONSIBILITY 28
460	460	ORGANIZATION SHALL CONSULT WITH THE ADV ISORY COUNCIL ESTABL ISHED 29
461	461	UNDER § 9–2405 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 30
462	462
463	463	(2) ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 1, 2024, A PRODUCER MAY NOT S ELL, 31
464	464	OFFER FOR SALE , DISTRIBUTE, OR IMPORT FOR SALE O R DISTRIBUTION PACKA GING 32
465	465	MATERIALS FOR USE IN THE STATE UNLESS THE PROD UCER, INDIVIDUALLY OR AS 33 SENATE BILL 292 11
466	466
467	467
468	468	PART OF A PRODUCER R ESPONSIBILITY ORGANI ZATION, HAS AN APPROVED 1
469	469	PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY PLAN ON FILE WIT H THE DEPARTMENT . 2
470	470
471	471	(B) A PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY PLAN SHALL: 3
472	472
473	473	(1) IDENTIFY THE PRODUCER S COVERED BY THE PLA N, INCLUDING 4
474	474	THE CONTACT INFORMAT ION FOR EACH PARTICI PATING PRODUCER AND THE 5
475	475	PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY ORGANIZATION ; 6
476	476
477	477	(2) IDENTIFY EACH BRAND O F PACKAGING MATERIAL S COVERED BY 7
478	478	THE PLAN; 8
479	479
480	480	(3) REQUIRE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH S UBSECTION (C) OF THIS 9
481	481	SECTION, ACHIEVEMENT WITHIN 5 YEARS AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE FIRST 10
482	482	VERSION OF THE PLAN IS APPROVED AND ESTA BLISH THE FOLLOWING 11
483	483	PERFORMANCE GOALS , AS RELEVANT, FOR EACH PACKAGING M ATERIAL TYPE: 12
484	484
485	485	(I) POSTCONSUMER RECYCLED CONTENT GOALS ; 13
486	486
487	487	(II) RECYCLABILITY AND REC YCLING RATE GOALS ; 14
488	488
489	489	(III) REUSE GOALS; 15
490	490
491	491	(IV) PACKAGING REDUCTION G OALS; 16
492	492
493	493	(V) COMPOST ACCESS OR COM POST RATE GOALS , IF 17
494	494	APPLICABLE AND TECHN OLOGICALLY AND ENVIR ONMENTALLY FEASIBLE ; 18
495	495
496	496	(VI) CONTAMINATION REDUCTI ON RATE GOALS ; 19
497	497
498	498	(VII) GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCT ION GOALS; AND 20
499	499
500	500	(VIII) ANY OTHER GOAL THAT D EMONSTRATES POSITIVE 21
501	501	ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROV EMENT AND IS JUSTIFI ED IN THE PLAN; 22
502	502
503	503	(4) REQUIRE EACH PARTICIP ATING PRODUCER TO RE DUCE ALL 23
504	504	PACKAGING MATERIAL W ASTE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE , AND BY 24
505	505	NOT LESS THAN 25% FOR EACH PACKAG ING MATERIAL TYPE , WITHIN 5 YEARS AFTER 25
506	506	THE DATE ON WHICH TH E FIRST VERSION OF T HE PLAN IS APPROVED ; 26
507	507
508	508	(5) DESCRIBE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH S UBSECTION (D) OF THIS 27
509	509	SECTION, THE FINANCING METHOD THAT WILL BE USED TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN ; 28
510	510	12 SENATE BILL 292
511	511
512	512
513	513	(6) DESCRIBE HOW THE PERFORMANCE GOALS EST ABLISHED UNDER 1
514	514	ITEM (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION W ILL BE MET OR EXCEED ED; 2
515	515
516	516	(7) DESCRIBE HOW STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS WERE CONSIDERED IN 3
517	517	THE DEVELOPMENT OF T HE PLAN; 4
518	518
519	519	(8) DESCRIBE HOW STAFFING AND ADMINISTERING TH E 5
520	520	IMPLEMENTATION OF TH E PLAN WILL BE HANDLED ; 6
521	521
522	522	(9) DESCRIBE THE STRATEGY FOR REDUCING PACKAGI NG 7
523	523	MATERIALS IN THE STATE, INCLUDING HOW PRODUC ERS PARTICIPATING IN A PLAN 8
524	524	WILL WORK TOGETHER T O REDUCE PACKAGING T HROUGH PRODUCT DESIG N AND 9
525	525	PROGRAM INNOVATIONS ; 10
526	526
527	527	(10) DESCRIBE THE ACTIONS TAKEN OR THAT WILL B E TAKEN FOR 11
528	528	PUBLIC OUTREACH , EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION , TAKING INTO ACCOUNT 12
529	529	THAT PUBLIC OUTREACH , EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION SH ALL: 13
530	530
531	531	(I) PROMOTE THE RESPONSIB LE END–OF–LIFE MANAGEMENT 14
532	532	OF PACKAGING MATERIALS; 15
533	533
534	534	(II) PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO P REVENT LITTER OF 16
535	535	PACKAGING MATERIALS; 17
536	536
537	537	(III) PROVIDE RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING INSTRUCTI ONS 18
538	538	THAT ARE, TO THE EXTENT PRACTI CABLE: 19
539	539
540	540	1. CONSISTENT STATEWIDE , TAKING INTO ACCOUNT 20
541	541	DIFFERENCES AMONG LO CAL LAWS AND PROCESS ING CAPABILITIE S; 21
542	542
543	543	2. EASY TO UNDERSTAND ; AND 22
544	544
545	545	3. EASILY ACCESSIBLE ; AND 23
546	546
547	547	(IV) PROVIDE FOR OUTREACH AND EDUCATION THAT A RE: 24
548	548
549	549	1. DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE PACKAGING MATERIALS 25
550	550	MANAGEMENT GOALS AND REQUIREMENTS , INCLUDING THE PREVEN TION OF 26
551	551	CONTAMINATION OF PACKAGING MATERIALS; 27
552	552
553	553	2. COORDINATED ACROSS PR OGRAMS TO AVOID 28
554	554	CONFUSION FOR CONSUM ERS; AND 29
555	555	SENATE BILL 292 13
556	556
557	557
558	558	3. DEVELOPED IN CONSULTA TION WITH LOCAL 1
559	559	GOVERNMENTS AND OTHE R STAKEHOLDERS ; 2
560	560
561	561	(11) DESCRIBE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH S UBSECTION (E) OF THIS 3
562	562	SECTION, THE AMOUN T OF FUNDING THAT WI LL BE USED FOR IMPRO VING REUSE, 4
563	563	COMPOSTING , AND RECYCLING IN THE STATE; 5
564	564
565	565	(12) DESCRIBE THE PROCESS BY WHICH A LOCAL GOV ERNMENT MAY 6
566	566	REQUEST REIMBURSEMEN T FOR COSTS ASSOCIAT ED WITH TRANSPORTING , 7
567	567	COLLECTING, AND PROCESSING PACKA GING MATERIALS THAT ARE IDEN TIFIED IN 8
568	568	THE PLAN, INCLUDING: 9
569	569
570	570	(I) THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE REQUEST WILL BE REVIEWED; 10
571	571
572	572	(II) THE PROCESS FOR APPRO VING OR DENYING A RE QUEST 11
573	573	FOR REIMBURSEMENT ; AND 12
574	574
575	575	(III) THE SCHEDULE FOR PROV IDING REIMBURSEMENT THAT 13
576	576	INCLUDES REIMBURSEMENT ON AT L EAST A QUARTERLY BAS IS; AND 14
577	577
578	578	(13) INCLUDE ANY OTHER INF ORMATION THAT IS REQ UIRED BY THE 15
579	579	DEPARTMENT . 16
580	580
581	581	(C) BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE STATEWIDE REC YCLING NEEDS 17
582	582	ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED UNDER § 9–1702.2 OF THIS TITLE, THE DEPARTMENT , IN 18
583	583	COORDINATION WITH A PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY ORGANIZATION , SHALL 19
584	584	ESTABLISH PERFORMANC E GOALS FOR EACH PAC KAGING MATERIAL TYPE USING A 20
585	585	BASELINE YEAR THAT I S INFORMED BY THE ST ATEWIDE RECYCLING NE EDS 21
586	586	ASSESSMENT , INCLUDING ESTABLISHI NG RECYCLING RATE GO ALS FOR EACH 22
587	587	PACKAGING MATERIAL T YPE, AT 5–, 10–, AND 15–YEAR INTERVALS . 23
588	588
589	589	(D) (1) THE FINANCING METHOD THAT WILL BE USED BY A PRODUCER 24
590	590	RESPONSIBILITY ORGAN IZATION TO IMPLEMENT A PRODUCER RESPONSIB ILITY 25
591	591	PLAN SHALL: 26
592	592
593	593	(I) PROVIDE THE METHOD FO R EITHER DIRECT INVE STMENTS 27
594	594	OR REIMBURSEMENTS FO R IMPROVING INFRASTR UCTURE FOR REUSE , 28
595	595	COMPOSTING , AND RECYCLING IN ACC ORDANCE WITH SUBSECT ION (B)(11) OF THIS 29
596	596	SECTION; 30
597	597
598	598	(II) PROVIDE A REASONABLE ANNUAL RATE PER TON OF 31
599	599	RECYCLED OR CO MPOSTED PACKAGING MA TERIALS FOR REIMBURS ING LOCAL 32
600	600	GOVERNMENTS FOR COST S ASSOCIATED WITH : 33 14 SENATE BILL 292
601	601
602	602
603	603
604	604	1. UP TO 50% OF THE COST OF COLLE CTING PACKAGING 1
605	605	MATERIALS THAT ARE I DENTIFIED IN THE PLA N; 2
606	606
607	607	2. TRANSPORTING RECYCLAB LE OR COMPOSTABLE 3
608	608	PACKAGING MATERIALS TO A RECYCLING OR COMPO STING FACILITY; 4
609	609
610	610	3. PROCESSING PACKAGING MATERIALS, INCLUDING BY 5
611	611	REMOVING CONTAMINATI ON; AND 6
612	612
613	613	4. RECYCLING PACKAGING M ATERIALS THAT ARE 7
614	614	DIVERTED TO BE RECYC LED OR COMPOSTED IN THE STATE; 8
615	615
616	616	(III) ESTABLISH A FEE STRUC TURE FOR PARTICIPATING 9
617	617	PRODUCERS THAT IS SE T IN A MANNER TO COV ER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH: 10
618	618
619	619	1. IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN , INCLUDING THE 11
620	620	ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF A PRODUCER RESPON SIBILITY ORGANIZATIO N; 12
621	621
622	622	2. REIMBURSING LOCAL GOV ERNMENTS FOR COSTS I N 13
623	623	ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH ; 14
624	624
625	625	3. THE ADMINISTRATION , REVIEW, OVERSIGHT, AND 15
626	626	ENFORCEMENT OF THE P LAN BY THE DEPARTMENT ; 16
627	627
628	628	4. IMPLEMENTING THE STRA TEGY IN THE PLAN FOR 17
629	629	REDUCING PACKAGING M ATERIALS IN ACCORDAN CE WITH SUBSECTION (B)(9) OF 18
630	630	THIS SECTION; AND 19
631	631
632	632	5. IMPLEMENTING THE STRA TEGY IN THE PLAN FOR 20
633	633	IMPROVING REUSE , COMPOSTING , AND RECYCLING IN THE STATE IN ACCORDANCE 21
634	634	WITH SUBSECTION (B)(11) OF THIS SECTION; 22
635	635
636	636	(IV) 1. DESCRIBE THE INCENTIV ES TO ENCOURAGE 23
637	637	PARTICIPATING PRODUC ERS TO ENGAGE IN W ASTE REDUCTION AND R ECYCLING 24
638	638	ACTIVITIES; AND 25
639	639
640	640	2. DESCRIBE THE DISINCEN TIVES TO DISCOURAGE 26
641	641	DESIGNS OR PRACTICES THAT INCREASE THE CO ST OF MANAGING PACKAGING 27
642	642	MATERIALS; 28
643	643
644	644	(V) BE EVALUATED BY AN INDEP ENDENT FINANCIAL AUD ITOR, 29
645	645	AS DESIGNATED BY THE DEPARTMENT , TO ENSURE THE COSTS OF IMPLEMENTING 30 SENATE BILL 292 15
646	646
647	647
648	648	THE PLAN ARE COVERED ; AND 1
649	649
650	650	(VI) MEET ANY OTHER REQUIR EMENT ESTABLISHED BY THE 2
651	651	DEPARTMENT BY REGULAT ION. 3
652	652
653	653	(2) THE REIMBURSEMENT RAT E ESTABLISHED UNDER PARAGR APH 4
654	654	(1)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION S HALL BE BASED ON : 5
655	655
656	656	(I) THE POPULATION SIZE O F A LOCAL JURISDICTI ON; 6
657	657
658	658	(II) THE DISTANCE TO THE N EAREST RECYCLING OR 7
659	659	COMPOSTING FACILITY ; 8
660	660
661	661	(III) THE COMMODITY VALUE O F RECYCLED PACKAGING 9
662	662	MATERIALS; AND 10
663	663
664	664	(IV) ANY SOCIOECONOMIC OR GEOGRAPHIC FACTOR , AS 11
665	665	DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 12
666	666
667	667	(3) THE FEE STRUCTURE EST ABLISHED UNDER PARAG RAPH (1)(III) 13
668	668	OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL BE VARIABLE BASED ON : 14
669	669
670	670	(I) COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORTING , COLLECTING, 15
671	671	AND PROCESSING PACKAG ING MATERIALS ; 16
672	672
673	673	(II) AN ECO–MODULATION OF FEES , INCLUDING ESTABLISHI NG: 17
674	674
675	675	1. A HIGHER FEE FOR PACKA GING MATERIALS WITH 18
676	676	LOW RECYCLABILITY OR RECYCLED CONTENT ; AND 19
677	677
678	678	2. A DISCOUNTED FEE FOR P ACKAGING MATERIALS 20
679	679	WITH HIGH RECYCLAB ILITY OR RECYCLED CO NTENT; AND 21
680	680
681	681	(III) ANY OTHER FACTOR , AS DETERMINED BY THE 22
682	682	DEPARTMENT . 23
683	683
684	684	(E) THE FUNDING THAT WILL BE USED FOR IMPROVIN G REUSE, 24
685	685	COMPOSTING , AND RECYCLING SHALL INCLUDE INVESTMENT I N MARKET 25
686	686	DEVELOPMENT AND EXIS TING AND FUTURE REUS E, COMPOSTING , AND RECYCLING 26
687	687	INFRASTRUCTURE , GIVING PRIORITY TO I NVESTMENT IN EXISTIN G 27
688	688	INFRASTRUCTURE , INCLUDING: 28
689	689
690	690	(1) INSTALLING OR UPGRADI NG EQUIPMENT TO IMPR OVE THE 29 16 SENATE BILL 292
691	691
692	692
693	693	SORTING OF PACKAGING MATERIALS AT EXISTIN G SORTING AND PROCES SING 1
694	694	FACILITIES; 2
695	695
696	696	(2) MITIGATING THE IMPACTS OF PACKAGING MATERIA LS ON OTHER 3
697	697	COMMODITIES AT EXIST ING SORTING AND PROC ESSING FACILITIES; AND 4
698	698
699	699	(3) CAPITAL EXPENDITURES FOR NEW TECHNOLOGY , EQUIPMENT, 5
700	700	AND FACILITIES, BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE STATEWIDE REC YCLING NEEDS 6
701	701	ASSESSMENT C ONDUCTED UNDER § 9–1702.2 OF THIS TITLE. 7
702	702
703	703	(F) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVI EW: 8
704	704
705	705	(1) THE PRODUCER RESPONSI BILITY PLAN REQUIRED UNDER 9
706	706	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION; AND 10
707	707
708	708	(2) THE WORK PRODUCT OF T HE INDEPENDENT FINAN CIAL AUDITOR 11
709	709	DESIGNATED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO EVALUATE THE FINA NCING COMPONENT OF 12
710	710	THE PRODUCER RESPONS IBILITY PLAN UNDER S UBSECTION (D)(1)(V) OF THIS 13
711	711	SECTION. 14
712	712
713	713	(G) (1) WITHIN 120 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING A PROPOSED PRODUCER 15
714	714	RESPONSIBILITY PLAN , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL APPR OVE, APPROVE WITH 16
715	715	CONDITIONS, OR REJECT THE PLAN . 17
716	716
717	717	(2) IN MAKING A DETERMINA TION UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 18
718	718	SUBSECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONS IDER WHETHER : 19
719	719
720	720	(I) THE PRODUCER RESPONSI BILITY PLAN COMPLIES WITH 20
721	721	THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION, INCLUDING WHETHER TH E FINANCING 21
722	722	METHOD WILL COVER THE CO STS OF IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN; AND 22
723	723
724	724	(II) THE PRODUCER RESPONSI BILITY ORGANIZATION ENGAGED 23
725	725	SUFFICIENTLY WITH ST AKEHOLDERS , INCLUDING LOCAL GOVE RNMENTS, IN 24
726	726	DEVELOPING THE PLAN . 25
727	727
728	728	(H) WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE DAT E A PRODUCER RESPONS IBILITY 26
729	729	PLAN IS APPROVED UND ER THIS SECTION , A PRODUCER RESPONSIB ILITY 27
730	730	ORGANIZATION SHALL I MPLEMENT THE PLAN . 28
731	731
732	732	(I) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION 29
733	733	AND SUBJECT TO PARAG RAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN APPROVED PRODUCER 30
734	734	RESPONSIBILITY PLAN SHALL EXPIRE AF TER 5 YEARS. 31
735	735	SENATE BILL 292 17
736	736
737	737
738	738	(2) A PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY PLAN MAY CONTINU E AFTER 5 1
739	739	YEARS IF IT IS RENEG OTIATED, RENEWED, OR AMENDED AND APPRO VED BY THE 2
740	740	DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDA NCE WITH THIS SUBTIT LE. 3
741	741
742	742	(3) THE DEPARTMENT MAY RESCIN D APPROVAL OF A PRODUCER 4
743	743	RESPONSIBILITY PLAN AT ANY TIME FOR GOOD CAUSE. 5
744	744
745	745	(4) IF THE DEPARTMENT RESCINDS A N APPROVAL OF A PROD UCER 6
746	746	RESPONSIBILITY PLAN UNDER PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE 7
747	747	PRODUCER, OR IF APPLICABLE , THE PRODUCER RESPONS IBILITY ORGANIZATION 8
748	748	MAY AMEND THE PLAN AND SUB MIT IT TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL IN 9
749	749	ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE. 10
750	750
751	751	(5) IF, BASED ON THE ANNUAL REPORT SUBMITTED UND ER § 9–2407 11
752	752	OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE PERFORMANCE GOAL S ESTABLISHED UNDER SUBSECTION 12
753	753	(B)(3) OF THIS SECTION HAVE NOT BEEN ACHIEVED , THE DEPARTMENT MAY 13
754	754	REQUIRE THAT A PRODU CER RESPONSIBILITY O RGANIZATION AMEND TH E 14
755	755	PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY PLAN. 15
756	756
757	757	9–2405. 16
758	758
759	759	(A) THERE IS A PRODUCER R ESPONSIBILITY PLAN A DVISORY COUNCIL . 17
760	760
761	761	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE AD VISORY COUNCIL IS TO PROVIDE ADVICE TO 18
762	762	THE DEPARTMENT AND PRODUC ER RESPONSIBILITY OR GANIZATIONS FOR 19
763	763	DRAFTING, AMENDING, AND IMPLEMENTING PRO DUCER RESPONSIBILITY PLANS. 20
764	764
765	765	(C) (1) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL CONSIST OF A B ROAD RANGE OF 21
766	766	INTERESTED STAKEHOLD ERS APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY, INCLUDING: 22
767	767
768	768	(I) REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE FOLLOWING INDUST RIES OR 23
769	769	ENTITIES IN THE STATE: 24
770	770
771	771	1. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGEN CIES RESPONSIBLE FOR 25
772	772	RECYCLING PROGRAMS ; 26
773	773
774	774	2. RECYCLABLES AND COMPO STABLE MATERIALS 27
775	775	COLLECTORS ; 28
776	776
777	777	3. RECYCLING PROCESSORS ; AND 29
778	778
779	779	4. COMPOST PROCESSORS ; 30
780	780	18 SENATE BILL 292
781	781
782	782
783	783	(II) A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH PRODUCER 1
784	784	RESPONSIBILITY ORGAN IZATION; 2
785	785
786	786	(III) REPRESENTATIVES OF AT LEAST TWO NONPROFIT 3
787	787	ORGANIZATIONS IN THE STATE WITH MISSIONS R ELATED TO REDUCING W ASTE; 4
788	788
789	789	(IV) AT LEAST ONE REPRESEN TATIVE OF AN ENVIRON MENTAL 5
790	790	ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIO N; 6
791	791
792	792	(V) AT LEAST ONE REPRESEN TATIVE OF AN ENVIRON MENTAL 7
793	793	JUSTICE ADVOCACY ORG ANIZATION; AND 8
794	794
795	795	(VI) AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO RE SIDE IN 9
796	796	THE STATE. 10
797	797
798	798	(2) IN APPOINTING MEMBERS TO THE ADVIS ORY COUNCIL , THE 11
799	799	SECRETARY SHALL , TO THE EXTENT PRACTI CABLE, ENSURE THAT THE 12
800	800	MEMBERSHIP OF THE AD VISORY COUNCIL REPRE SENTS: 13
801	801
802	802	(I) ALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION S OF THE STATE; 14
803	803
804	804	(II) LARGE AND SMALL COUNT IES AND MUNICIPALITI ES; AND 15
805	805
806	806	(III) THE VARIABILITY IN HO W WASTE AND RECYCLAB LE AND 16
807	807	COMPOSTABLE MATERIAL S ARE COLLECTED AND PROCESSED IN THE STATE. 17
808	808
809	809	(D) FROM AMONG THE ADVISO RY COUNCIL MEMBERS , THE SECRETARY 18
810	810	SHALL DESIGNATE TWO REPRESENTATIVES TO S ERVE AS COCHAIRS . 19
811	811
812	812	(E) A MEMBER OF THE A DVISORY COUNCIL : 20
813	813
814	814	(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 21
815	815	ADVISORY COUNCIL ; BUT 22
816	816
817	817	(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 23
818	818	STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 24
819	819
820	820	(F) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL MEET AT LEAST QUARTE RLY. 25
821	821
822	822	(G) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL: 26
823	823
824	824	(1) ON REQUEST BY A PRODU CER OR PRODUCER RESP ONSIBILITY 27
825	825	ORGANIZATION , PROVIDE ADVICE REGAR DING THE DRAFTING OR AMENDING OF A 28 SENATE BILL 292 19
826	826
827	827
828	828	PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY PLAN REQUIRED UN DER § 9–2404 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 1
829	829
830	830	(2) RECEIVE AND REVIEW TH E PRODUCER RESPONSIB ILITY PLANS 2
831	831	SUBMITTED IN ACCORDA NCE WITH § 9–2404 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 3
832	832
833	833	(3) RECEIVE AND REVIEW AN NUAL REPORTS SUBMITT ED IN 4
834	834	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–2407 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 5
835	835
836	836	(4) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT REGARDING 6
837	837	PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY PLAN APPROVAL ; AND 7
838	838
839	839	(5) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT AND 8
840	840	PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY ORGANIZATIONS RE GARDING PRODUCER 9
841	841	RESPONSIBILITY PLAN IMPLEMENTATION . 10
842	842
843	843	9–2406. 11
844	844
845	845	IN ACCORDANCE WITH TH E REQUIREMENTS OF A PRODUCER RESPONSIBILI TY 12
846	846	ORGANIZATION , AS ESTABLISHED IN AN APPROVED PRODUCER RE SPONSIBILITY 13
847	847	PLAN ON FILE WITH TH E DEPARTMENT , AND ANY OTHER REQUIR EMENT ADOPTED 14
848	848	BY THE DEPARTMENT , A LOCAL GOVERNMENT M AY REQUEST REIMBURSE MENT 15
849	849	FROM A PRODUCER RESP ONSIBILITY OR GANIZATION FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH 16
850	850	COLLECTING, TRANSPORTING , AND PROCESSING PACKAGING MATERIALS THAT ARE 17
851	851	IDENTIFIED UNDER THE PLAN, INCLUDING COSTS ASSO CIATED WITH RECYCLIN G 18
852	852	SERVICES FOR BUSINES SES, SCHOOLS, PUBLIC PLACES , RESIDENTIAL HOUSING , 19
853	853	INCLUDING MULTIFAMILY HOUSING , AND ANY OTHER ENTITY . 20
854	854
855	855	9–2407. 21
856	856
857	857	(A) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2026, EACH 22
858	858	PRODUCER RESPONSIBIL ITY ORGANIZATION THA T HAS AN APPROVED PR ODUCER 23
859	859	RESPONSIBILITY PLAN ON FILE WITH THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REPO RT TO THE 24
860	860	DEPARTMENT ON THE PROGRES S TOWARD MEETING PLA N REQUIREMENTS AND 25
861	861	GOALS FOR THE IMMEDI ATELY PRECEDING YEAR . 26
862	862
863	863	(B) THE REPORT REQUIRED U NDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 27
864	864	SHALL INCLUDE : 28
865	865
866	866	(1) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE REIMBURSEMENT METHODS 29
867	867	USED FOR COLLECTING , TRANSPORTING , AND PROCESSING PACKAGING 30
868	868	MATERIALS; 31
869	869	20 SENATE BILL 292
870	870
871	871
872	872	(2) (I) THE STATUS ON ACHIEVI NG THE PERFORMANCE G OALS 1
873	873	ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9–2404(B)(3) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 2
874	874
875	875	(II) IF THE GOALS HAVE NOT BEEN ACHIEV ED, A DESCRIPTION 3
876	876	OF THE ACTIONS PROPO SED TO ACHIEVE THE G OALS; 4
877	877
878	878	(3) THE AMOUNT OF EACH PACKAGING MATERIAL TYPE COLLEC TED 5
879	879	IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE METHOD OF DISPOSITION OF EA CH PACKAGING 6
880	880	MATERIAL TYPE ; 7
881	881
882	882	(4) (I) THE NUMBER OF BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE 8
883	883	STATE AND THE NUMBER COLLECTED, BY MATERIAL TYPE ; 9
884	884
885	885	(II) THE OVERALL REDEMPTIO N RATE AND EFFECTIVE RATE OF 10
886	886	RECYCLING OF BEVERAG E CONTAINERS BY MATE RIAL TYPE, AFTER SUBTRACTING 11
887	887	CONTAMINATION RATES , AND BY NUMBER OF UNI TS AND WEIGHT; AND 12
888	888
889	889	(III) 1. A DESCRIPTION OF THE L OCATION OF COLLECTIO N 13
890	890	FACILITIES OR POINTS AND SORTING AND PROC ESSING FACILITIES FO R BEVERAGE 14
891	891	CONTAINERS; 15
892	892
893	893	2. A DESCRIPTION OF ANY I MPROVEMENTS MADE IN THE 16
894	894	REPORTING YEAR TO IN CREASE THE EASE AND CONVENIEN CE FOR CONSUMERS TO 17
895	895	RETURN BEVERAGE CONT AINERS; 18
896	896
897	897	3. A DESCRIPTION OF UNDER SERVED AREAS AND 19
898	898	ACTIONS THAT WILL BE TAKEN BY THE PRODUCE R RESPONSIBILITY ORG ANIZATION 20
899	899	TO IMPROVE THE AVAIL ABILITY OF COLLECTIO N FACILITIES OR POIN TS IN 21
900	900	UNDERSERVED AREAS ; AND 22
901	901
902	902	4. ANY OTHER INFORMATION ON BEVERAGE 23
903	903	CONTAINERS REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT ; 24
904	904
905	905	(5) THE TOTAL COST OF IMP LEMENTING THE PLAN , AS DETERMINED 25
906	906	BY AN INDEPENDENT FI NANCIAL AUDITOR INCL UDING: 26
907	907
908	908	(I) A COPY OF THE WORK PRO DUCT OF THE INDEPEND ENT 27
909	909	FINANCIAL AUDITOR; AND 28
910	910
911	911	(II) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DETAILING ALL PAYMEN TS 29
912	912	RECEIVED AND ISSUED BY THE PRODUCERS COVERED UNDER THE APPROVED PLAN ; 30
913	913	SENATE BILL 292 21
914	914
915	915
916	916	(6) SAMPLES OF ALL EDUCAT IONAL MATERIALS PROV IDED TO 1
917	917	CONSUMERS OR OTHER E NTITIES; 2
918	918
919	919	(7) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIONS TAKEN AND AN 3
920	920	EVALUATION OF THE ME THODS USED TO DISSEM INATE EDUCATIONAL MA TERIALS, 4
921	921	INCLUDING RECOMMENDA TIONS, IF ANY, FOR HOW THE EDUCATIO NAL COMPONENT 5
922	922	OF THE PLAN CAN BE I MPROVED; 6
923	923
924	924	(8) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENTS MADE IN MARKE T 7
925	925	DEVELOPMENT AND FOR IMPROVING REUSE , COMPOSTING , AND RECYCLING 8
926	926	INFRASTRUCTURE ; AND 9
927	927
928	928	(9) ANY OTHER INFORMATION AS REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 10
929	929
930	930	(C) FINANCIAL, PRODUCTION , OR SALES DATA REPORT ED TO THE 11
931	931	DEPARTMENT BY A PRODU CER RESPONSIBILITY ORGAN IZATION SHALL BE KEP T 12
932	932	CONFIDENTIAL BY THE DEPARTMENT AND MAY NO T BE SUBJECT TO PUBL IC 13
933	933	INSPECTION. 14
934	934
935	935	(D) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION, THE REPORT SHALL BE 15
936	936	POSTED ON THE WEBSIT E OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE PR ODUCER 16
937	937	RESPONSIBILI TY ORGANIZATION . 17
938	938
939	939	9–2408. 18
940	940
941	941	ANY PERSON PARTICIPAT ING IN A PRODUCER RE SPONSIBILITY PLAN IN 19
942	942	COMPLIANCE WITH THIS SUBTITLE IS IMMUNE F ROM LIABILITY UNDER STATE LAW 20
943	943	RELATING TO ANTITRUS T AND RESTRAINT OF T RADE FOR ANY COOPERA TED 21
944	944	ACTIVITIES ARISING O UT OF THE RECYCLING, REUSE, AND DISPOSAL OF PACKAGING 22
945	945	MATERIALS. 23
946	946
947	947	9–2409. 24
948	948
949	949	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CAR RY OUT THIS 25
950	950	SUBTITLE. 26
951	951
952	952	9–2410. 27
953	953
954	954	A PRODUCER OR PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ORGAN IZATION THAT VIOLATE S 28
955	955	THIS SUBTITLE IS SUB JECT TO: 29
956	956
957	957	(1) FOR A FIRST VIOLATION, A CIVIL PENALTY OF $5,000; 30
958	958	22 SENATE BILL 292
959	959
960	960
961	961	(2) FOR A SECOND VIOLATIO N, A CIVIL PENALTY OF $10,000; AND 1
962	962
963	963	(3) FOR A THIRD AND SUBSE QUENT VIOLATION , A CIVIL PENALTY OF 2
964	964	$20,000. 3
965	965
966	966	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 4
967	967	October 1, 2022. 5
968	968
969	969