Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB735 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 EXISTING LAW .
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0735
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 735
8	8	M3 4lr1869
9	9	HB 1089/23 – ENT & ECM CF SB 642
10	10	By: Delegates Terrasa, Edelson, Boafo, Charkoudian, Cullison, Embry, Fair,
11	11	Feldmark, Foley, Fraser–Hidalgo, Healey, Holmes, A. Johnson, Kaufman,
12	12	Lehman, Love, Pena–Melnyk, Qi, Ruth, Solomon, Stein, Stewart, Taveras,
13	13	Taylor, Valderrama, Williams, Wu, and Ziegler
14	14	Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2024
15	15	Assigned to: Environment and Transportation and Economic Matters
16	16
17	17	A BILL ENTITLED
18	18
19	19	AN ACT concerning 1
20	20
21	21	Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program 2
22	22
23	23	FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and 3
24	24	Litter Reduction Program to increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers 4
25	25	and reduce the litter, pollution, and costs associated with beverage containers; 5
26	26	altering the duties of the Office of Recycling; altering the contents and use of the 6
27	27	State Recycling Trust Fund; requiring the Comptroller to establish a separate 7
28	28	account within the Fund; requiring that each redeemable beverage container sold in 8
29	29	the State depict certain information beginning on a certain date; requiring the 9
30	30	wholesale price and retail price of a full redeemable beverage container to include 10
31	31	the refund value of the container, subject to a certain exception, beginning on a 11
32	32	certain date; requiring a retailer to include certain information on a customer’s sales 12
33	33	receipt; establishing a framework for the redemption of redeemable beverage 13
34	34	containers sold in the State; requiring a producer to provide a certified copy of a 14
35	35	certain contractual agreement to the relevant beverage container stewardship 15
36	36	organization; prohibiting a producer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing in 16
37	37	or importing into the State a redeemable beverage container unless the producer is 17
38	38	registered with the Department of the Environment, pays a certain fee, and is part 18
39	39	of a certain beverage container stewardship organization; establishing a framework 19
40	40	for a beverage container stewardship organization to represent producers in fulfilling 20
41	41	the requirements of this Act; requiring each beverage container stewardship 21
42	42	organization to submit a certain beverage container stewardship plan to the 22
43	43	Department for approval; requiring a beverage container stewardship organization 23
44	44	to implement and administer a beverage container stewardship plan within a certain 24
45	45	time after the plan is approved; requiring the Department to establish a process for 25
46	46	a county or municipal corporation to create a redemption facility; authorizing 26
47	47	redeemable beverage containers redeemed at a redemption facility managed by a 27
48	48	county or municipal corporation to be credited toward meeting certain recycling 28 2 HOUSE BILL 735
49	49
50	50
51	51	rates; establishing the Beverage Container Recycling Refund Grant Program to 1
52	52	increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers in the State, increase the 2
53	53	availability of public water fountains and refill stations in the State, and reduce the 3
54	54	volume of litter from beverage containers in the State; establishing the Redeemable 4
55	55	Beverage Container Recycling Refund Advisory Council to review certain reports, 5
56	56	make certain recommendations, and advise the Department on certain matters; 6
57	57	providing immunity from liability to a certain producer or beverage container 7
58	58	stewardship organization under certain circumstances; and generally relating to the 8
59	59	Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program. 9
60	60
61	61	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
62	62	Article – Environment 11
63	63	Section 9–1701(a) and (q) and 9–1702(a) 12
64	64	Annotated Code of Maryland 13
65	65	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
66	66
67	67	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
68	68	Article – Environment 16
69	69	Section 9–1702(d) and 9–1707(f) 17
70	70	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
71	71	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
72	72
73	73	BY adding to 20
74	74	Article – Environment 21
75	75	Section 9–1733 through 9–1751 to be under the new part “Part V. Maryland 22
76	76	Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program” 23
77	77	Annotated Code of Maryland 24
78	78	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 25
79	79
80	80	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 26
81	81	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 27
82	82
83	83	Article – Environment 28
84	84
85	85	9–1701. 29
86	86
87	87	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 30
88	88
89	89	(q) “Recycling” means any process in which recyclable materials are collected, 31
90	90	separated, or processed and returned to the marketplace in the form of raw materials or 32
91	91	products. 33
92	92
93	93	9–1702. 34
94	94
95	95	(a) There is an Office of Recycling created within the Department. 35
96	96
97	97	(d) The Office shall: 36 HOUSE BILL 735 3
98	98
99	99
100	100
101	101	(1) Assist the counties in developing an acceptable recycling plan required 1
102	102	under § 9–1703 of this subtitle and § 9–505 of this title, including technical assistance to 2
103	103	the local governments; 3
104	104
105	105	(2) Coordinate the efforts of the State to facilitate the implementation of 4
106	106	the recycling goals at the county level; 5
107	107
108	108	(3) Review all recycling plans submitted as part of a county plan as 6
109	109	required under § 9–505 of this title and advise the Secretary on the adequacy of the 7
110	110	recycling plan; 8
111	111
112	112	(4) Administer the Statewide Electronics Recycling Program under Part IV 9
113	113	of this subtitle; [and] 10
114	114
115	115	(5) Promote the development of markets for recycled materials and 11
116	116	recycled products in the State in accordance with § 9–1702.1 of this subtitle; AND 12
117	117
118	118	(6) ADMINISTER THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 13
119	119	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 14
120	120	9–1735 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 15
121	121
122	122	9–1707. 16
123	123
124	124	(f) (1) There is a State Recycling Trust Fund. 17
125	125
126	126	(2) The Fund shall consist of: 18
127	127
128	128	(i) The newsprint recycling incentive fee; 19
129	129
130	130	(ii) The telephone directory recycling incentive fee collected under § 20
131	131	9–1709 of this subtitle; 21
132	132
133	133	(iii) The covered electronic device manufacturer registration fee 22
134	134	collected under § 9–1728 of this subtitle; 23
135	135
136	136	(IV) UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS , FEES, AND PENALTIES 24
137	137	TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND UNDER §§ 9–1739, 9–1740, AND 9–1750 OF THIS 25
138	138	SUBTITLE; 26
139	139
140	140	[(iv)] (V) All fines and penalties collected under this subtitle; 27
141	141
142	142	[(v)] (VI) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and 28
143	143
144	144	[(vi)] (VII) Any other money from any other source accepted for the 29
145	145	benefit of the Fund. 30 4 HOUSE BILL 735
146	146
147	147
148	148
149	149	(3) The Secretary shall administer the Fund. 1
150	150
151	151	(4) The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall 2
152	152	account for the Fund. 3
153	153
154	154	(5) (I) [At] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 4
155	155	PARAGRAPH , AT the end of each fiscal year, any unspent or unencumbered balance in the 5
156	156	Fund that exceeds $2,000,000 shall revert to the General Fund of the State in accordance 6
157	157	with § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. 7
158	158
159	159	(II) THE FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND UNDER 8
160	160	PARAGRAPH (2)(IV) OF THIS SUBSECTION A RE NOT SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE 9
161	161	STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE AND MAY NOT R EVERT TO THE 10
162	162	GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 11
163	163
164	164	(6) In accordance with the State budget, the Fund shall be used only: 12
165	165
166	166	(i) To provide grants to the counties to be used by the counties to 13
167	167	develop and implement local recycling plans; 14
168	168
169	169	(ii) To provide grants to counties that have addressed methods for 15
170	170	the separate collection and recycling of covered electronic devices in accordance with § 16
171	171	9–1703(c)(1) of this subtitle; 17
172	172
173	173	(iii) To provide grants to municipalities to be used by the 18
174	174	municipalities to implement local covered electronic device recycling programs; [and] 19
175	175
176	176	(iv) To carry out the purposes of the land management 20
177	177	administration; AND 21
178	178
179	179	(V) TO COVER THE COSTS OF ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , 22
180	180	EVALUATING, AND ENFORCING THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 23
181	181	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 24
182	182	9–1735 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 25
183	183
184	184	(7) (I) THE COMPTROLLER SHALL EST ABLISH A SEPARATE 26
185	185	ACCOUNT WITHIN THE FUND. 27
186	186
187	187	(II) THE ACCOUNT SHALL CON SIST OF THE FUNDS SP ECIFIED IN 28
188	188	PARAGRAPH (2)(IV) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 29
189	189
190	190	(III) THE ACCOUNT MAY BE US ED ONLY TO: 30
191	191	HOUSE BILL 735 5
192	192
193	193
194	194	1. COVER THE COSTS OF AD MINISTERING, MONITORING , 1
195	195	EVALUATING, AND ENFORCING THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 2
196	196	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 3
197	197	9–1735 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 4
198	198
199	199	2. FUND THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING 5
200	200	REFUND GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 6
201	201
202	202	3. COMPENSATE LOCAL GOVE RNMENTS IN 7
203	203	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–1744 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 8
204	204
205	205	4. MEET OR EXCEED THE PE RFORMANCE TARGETS 9
206	206	ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 10
207	207
208	208	[(7)] (8) (i) The Treasurer shall invest the money in the Fund in the 11
209	209	same manner as other State money may be invested. 12
210	210
211	211	(ii) Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the 13
212	212	General Fund of the State. 14
213	213
214	214	9–1731. RESERVED. 15
215	215
216	216	9–1732. RESERVED. 16
217	217
218	218	PART V. MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER 17
219	219	REDUCTION PROGRAM. 18
220	220
221	221	9–1733. 19
222	222
223	223	(A) IN THIS PART THE FOLL OWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 20
224	224	INDICATED. 21
225	225
226	226	(B) (1) “ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM ” MEANS A 22
227	227	PROGRAM THAT : 23
228	228
229	229	(I) UTILIZES A SYSTEM OF CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS AN D A 24
230	230	MECHANISM TO ASSOCIA TE REDEEMED REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS WITH 25
231	231	THE APPROPRIATE CUST OMER ACCOUNT ; 26
232	232
233	233	(II) CONSOLIDATES THE REDE EMED REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE 27
234	234	CONTAINERS FOR BULK SORTING WHILE COLLEC TING DATA ABOUT THE 28
235	235	CONTAINERS; 29
236	236	6 HOUSE BILL 735
237	237
238	238
239	239	(III) FULLY PREPARES REDEEM ED REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 1
240	240	CONTAINERS FOR SALE TO RECYCLERS ; AND 2
241	241
242	242	(IV) COLLECTS DATA TO SUPP ORT AN ACCOUNTING OF THE 3
243	243	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS, INCLUDING THE DEPOSI TS, FEES, AND 4
244	244	POUNDS OF MATERIAL P RODUCED THAT ARE ASS OCIATED WITH THE RED EEMABLE 5
245	245	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS . 6
246	246
247	247	(2) “ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM ” INCLUDES A 7
248	248	BAG DROP PROGRAM IF THE BAG DROP PROGRAM I S A COMPONENT OF THE 8
249	249	ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM. 9
250	250
251	251	(C) “ADVISORY COUNCIL” MEANS THE REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 10
252	252	CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND ADVISORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED U NDER § 11
253	253	9–1748 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 12
254	254
255	255	(D) “BAG DROP PROGRAM ” MEANS A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS A CUSTOMER 13
256	256	TO: 14
257	257
258	258	(1) DROP OFF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN A BAG 15
259	259	OR OTHER RECEPTACLE AT ONE OR MORE LOCAT IONS FOR A REFUND ; AND 16
260	260
261	261	(2) HAVE THE CORRESPONDIN G REFUND PLACED INTO AN ACCOUNT 17
262	262	HELD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE C USTOMER IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS THE 18
263	263	CUSTOMER TO OBTAIN T HE REFUND OR REFUND RECEIPT WITHIN A SPE CIFIED 19
264	264	NUMBER OF DAYS AFTER THE DROP –OFF. 20
265	265
266	266	(E) (1) “BEVERAGE” MEANS ANY DRINKABLE LIQUID INTENDED FOR 21
267	267	HUMAN ORAL CONSUMPTI ON. 22
268	268
269	269	(2) “BEVERAGE” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 23
270	270
271	271	(I) DRUGS REGULATED UNDER THE FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, 24
272	272	AND COSMETIC ACT; AND 25
273	273
274	274	(II) INFANT FORMULA . 26
275	275
276	276	(F) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ” MEANS A BOTTLE, CAN, OR OTHER 27
277	277	CONTAINER THAT : 28
278	278
279	279	(1) HAS BEEN SEALED BY A MANUFACTURER ; 29
280	280
281	281	(2) IS MADE OF GLASS , METAL, OR PLASTIC; AND 30 HOUSE BILL 735 7
282	282
283	283
284	284
285	285	(3) AT THE TIME OF SALE , CONTAINS 3 LITERS OR LESS OF A 1
286	286	BEVERAGE. 2
287	287
288	288	(G) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION AND PROCESSING METHOD” 3
289	289	MEANS A MANUAL OR TE CHNOLOGICAL METHOD F OR PROPERLY COLLECTING, 4
290	290	IDENTIFYING, COUNTING, OR PROCESSING EMPTY RED EEMABLE BEVERAGE 5
291	291	CONTAINERS FOR REDEM PTION. 6
292	292
293	293	(H) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON” MEANS A 7
294	294	NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON THAT IS: 8
295	295
296	296	(1) EXEMPT FROM TAXATION UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL 9
297	297	REVENUE CODE; AND 10
298	298
299	299	(2) CREATED BY PRODUCERS TO IMPLEMENT A BEVER AGE 11
300	300	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN. 12
301	301
302	302	(I) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP PLAN ” MEANS A PLAN 13
303	303	SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 14
304	304
305	305	(J) “DEPOSIT INITIATOR ” MEANS THE FIRST DIST RIBUTOR TO COLLECT A 15
306	306	DEPOSIT ON A BEVERAG E CONTAINER SOLD IN THE STATE. 16
307	307
308	308	(K) (1) “DISTRIBUTOR” MEANS A PERSON THAT SELLS BEVERAGES IN 17
309	309	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS TO A RETA ILER IN THE STATE. 18
310	310
311	311	(2) “DISTRIBUTOR” INCLUDES A PERSON TH AT MANUFACTURES AND 19
312	312	SELLS BEVERAGES IN R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CON TAINERS TO A RETAILE R IN THE 20
313	313	STATE. 21
314	314
315	315	(3) “DISTRIBUTOR” DOES NOT INCLUDE AIR LINES OR SHIPPING 22
316	316	COMPANIES THAT TRANS PORT REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS . 23
317	317
318	318	(L) “GRANT PROGRAM” MEANS THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING 24
319	319	REFUND GRANT PROGRAM ES TABLISHED UNDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 25
320	320
321	321	(M) “LINE BREAKAGE ” MEANS A BEVERAGE CON TAINER THAT: 26
322	322
323	323	(1) BECOMES DEFECTIVE OR DAMAGED DURING MANUF ACTURING; 27
324	324
325	325	(2) IS NOT INTENDED TO BE SOLD; AND 28
326	326	8 HOUSE BILL 735
327	327
328	328
329	329	(3) IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR R EDEMPTION. 1
330	330
331	331	(N) “MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE” MEANS A UNIVERSAL PR ODUCT 2
332	332	CODE THAT IS: 3
333	333
334	334	(1) UNIQUE TO BEVERAGE CO NTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE; AND 4
335	335
336	336	(2) USED TO DETER FRAUD A ND ENSURE THE LEGITI MATE 5
337	337	REDEMPTION OF REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS. 6
338	338
339	339	(O) (1) “ON–PREMISES SE LLER” MEANS A PERSON THAT SELLS FILLED 7
340	340	AND UNOPENED REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS FOR ON –PREMISES 8
341	341	CONSUMPTION . 9
342	342
343	343	(2) “ON–PREMISES SELLER ” INCLUDES: 10
344	344
345	345	(I) BARS; 11
346	346
347	347	(II) HOTELS; 12
348	348
349	349	(III) RESTAURANTS ; 13
350	350
351	351	(IV) SPORTING VENUES ; 14
352	352
353	353	(V) ENTERTAINMENT VENUES; AND 15
354	354
355	355	(VI) GAMING VENUES . 16
356	356
357	357	(P) “PERFORMANCE TARGETS ” MEANS THE TARGETS ES TABLISHED UNDER 17
358	358	§ 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 18
359	359
360	360	(Q) (1) “PRODUCER” MEANS A PERSON RESPO NSIBLE FOR COMPLYING 19
361	361	WITH THE REQUIREMENT S UNDER THIS PART . 20
362	362
363	363	(2) “PRODUCER” INCLUDES A FRANCHISOR OF A FRAN CHISE 21
364	364	LOCATED IN THE STATE. 22
365	365
366	366	(3) “PRODUCER” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 23
367	367
368	368	(I) THE STATE, A COUNTY, A MUNICIPAL CORPORAT ION, OR 24
369	369	ANY OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE; 25
370	370	HOUSE BILL 735 9
371	371
372	372
373	373	(II) A CHARITABLE ORGANIZAT ION THAT IS TAX –EXEMPT 1
374	374	UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; 2
375	375
376	376	(III) A SOCIAL WELFARE ORGAN IZATION THAT IS TAX –EXEMPT 3
377	377	UNDER § 501(C)(4) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; 4
378	378
379	379	(IV) A FRANCHISEE THAT OPER ATES A FRANCHISE IN THE 5
380	380	STATE; 6
381	381
382	382	(V) A PERSON THAT ANNUALLY SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE, 7
383	383	DISTRIBUTES, OR IMPORTS INTO THE COUNTRY FOR SALE IN THE STATE FEWER 8
384	384	THAN 1,000 REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS; OR 9
385	385
386	386	(VI) A PERSON THAT ANNUALLY SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE , OR 10
387	387	DISTRIBUTES IN THE STATE REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS THAT IN 11
388	388	AGGREGATE GE NERATE LESS THAN $5,000,000 EACH YEAR IN GLOBAL REVENUE. 12
389	389
390	390	(R) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 13
391	391	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 14
392	392	9–1735 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 15
393	393
394	394	(S) “RECYCLING RATE ” MEANS THE NUMBER OF NONREFILLAB LE 16
395	395	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE THAT ARE REDEEM ED 17
396	396	AND RECYCLED SHOWN A S A PERCENTAGE OF AL L NONREFILLABLE REDE EMABLE 18
397	397	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE. 19
398	398
399	399	(T) “REDEEM” MEANS THE RETURN OF AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 20
400	400	CONTAINER IN EXCHANGE FOR A REFUN D, A VOUCHER FOR A REFU ND, OR A CREDIT 21
401	401	TO AN ACCOUNT FOR NO T LESS THAN THE REFU ND VALUE. 22
402	402
403	403	(U) “REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER” MEANS A BEVERAGE 23
404	404	CONTAINER THAT , AT THE TIME OF SALE : 24
405	405
406	406	(1) CONTAINS 3 LITERS OR LESS OF A BEVERAGE; 25
407	407
408	408	(2) BEARS A UNIVERSAL PRO DUCT CODE; AND 26
409	409
410	410	(3) MAY BEAR A MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE FOR THE 27
411	411	PURPOSE OF ENSURING LEGITIMATE REDEMPTIO N AND DETERRING FRAU D. 28
412	412
413	413	(V) “REDEMPTION FACILITY ” MEANS A FACILITY THA T: 29
414	414	10 HOUSE BILL 735
415	415
416	416
417	417	(1) ACCEPTS EMPTY BEVERAG E CONTAINERS FROM A CONSUMER, A 1
418	418	RETAILER, OR BOTH; 2
419	419
420	420	(2) COLLECTS, SORTS, AND COUNTS EMPTY BEV ERAGE CONTAINERS ; 3
421	421
422	422	(3) REFUNDS THE REFUND VA LUE OF EMPTY REDEEMA BLE 4
423	423	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN CASH, WITH A VOUCHER , OR AS A CREDIT TO AN 5
424	424	ACCOUNT FOR NOT LESS THAN THE REFUND VALU E OF THE REDEEMABLE 6
425	425	BEVERAGE CONTAINER ; AND 7
426	426
427	427	(4) IS LICENSED UNDER § 9–1738 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8
428	428
429	429	(W) “REDEMPTION RATE ” MEANS THE PERCENTAGE OF REDEEMABLE 9
430	430	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE THAT ARE REDEEM ED FOR THE 10
431	431	DEPOSIT VALUE . 11
432	432
433	433	(X) “REFILLABLE” MEANS A BEVERAGE CONTAINER T HAT IS DESIGNED AND 12
434	434	INTENDED TO BE REUSE D AS A BEVERAGE CONT AINER AFTER BEING US ED BY A 13
435	435	CONSUMER WITHOUT THE NEED FOR REMANUFACTU RING. 14
436	436
437	437	(Y) (1) “RETAILER” MEANS A PERSON THAT ENGAGES IN THE SALE OF 15
438	438	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS TO A CONSUMER IN THE STATE. 16
439	439
440	440	(2) “RETAILER” INCLUDES A PERSON TH AT ENGAGES IN THE SA LE OF 17
441	441	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS: 18
442	442
443	443	(I) THROUGH A VENDING MAC HINE; OR 19
444	444
445	445	(II) ONLINE FOR HOME DELIV ERY. 20
446	446
447	447	(Z) “REVERSE VENDING MACHI NE” MEANS AN AUTOMATED D EVICE THAT: 21
448	448
449	449	(1) ACCEPTS ONE OR MORE T YPES OF EMPTY REDEEM ABLE 22
450	450	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 23
451	451
452	452	(2) USES A LASER SCANNER , AN OPTICAL SENSOR , A 24
453	453	MICROPROCESSOR , OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY TO ACCURATELY RECOGN IZE A 25
454	454	BEVERAGE CONTAINER ’S UNIVERSAL PRODUCT CODE TO DETERMINE WH ETHER THE 26
455	455	CONTAINER IS A REDEE MABLE BEVERAGE CONTA INER; 27
456	456
457	457	(3) ISSUES A REDEEMABLE C REDIT SLIP FOR THE R EDEEMABLE 28
458	458	BEVERAGE CONTAINER ’S REFUND VALUE ; 29
459	459	HOUSE BILL 735 11
460	460
461	461
462	462	(4) SEPARATES REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FROM 1
463	463	CONTAINERS THAT ARE NOT REDEEMABLE ; 2
464	464
465	465	(5) USES MECHANICAL COMPACTION TO CANCEL REDEEMABLE 3
466	466	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT HAVE BEEN REDEE MED; AND 4
467	467
468	468	(6) COMPILES INFORMATION REGARDING THE REDEEM ABLE 5
469	469	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT HAVE BEEN REDEE MED, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF 6
470	470	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS REDEEMED . 7
471	471
472	472	(AA) (1) “UNIVERSAL PRODUCT COD E” OR “UPC” MEANS A STANDARD 8
473	473	BARCODE THAT ENCODES A NUMBER UNIQUELY AS SIGNED TO A PRODUCT FOR 9
474	474	IDENTIFICATION OF TH E PRODUCT. 10
475	475
476	476	(2) “UNIVERSAL PRODUCT COD E” OR “UPC” INCLUDES: 11
477	477
478	478	(I) ANY INDUSTRY–ACCEPTED BARCODE USE D FOR PRODUCT 12
479	479	IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ; AND 13
480	480
481	481	(II) A EUROPEAN ARTICLE NUMB ER. 14
482	482
483	483	9–1734. 15
484	484
485	485	IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO: 16
486	486
487	487	(1) ACHIEVE A REDEMPTION RATE OF AT LEAST 90% FOR THE 17
488	488	APPROXIMATELY 5,200,000,000 SINGLE–USE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD 18
489	489	ANNUALLY IN THE STATE; 19
490	490
491	491	(2) PROVIDE A SOURCE OF H IGH–QUALITY FOOD –GRADE MATERIALS 20
492	492	FOR USE AS RECYCLED CONTENT IN BEVERAGE AND FOOD CONTAINERS ; 21
493	493
494	494	(3) REDUCE THE VOLUME OF LITTER AND PLASTIC P OLLUTION FROM 22
495	495	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN THE STATE; 23
496	496
497	497	(4) REDUCE THE VOLUME OF BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT ARE 24
498	498	LANDFILLED OR INCINE RATED IN THE STATE; 25
499	499
500	500	(5) REDUCE THE COSTS OF L ITTER AND BEVERAGE C ONTAINER 26
501	501	COLLECTION, RECYCLING, AND DISPOSAL INCURRE D BY TAXPAYERS , COUNTIES, 27
502	502	AND MUNICIPAL CORPOR ATIONS BY MAKING PRO DUCERS OF BEVERAGE 28
503	503	CONTAINERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RECOVERY , RECYCLING, AND REUSE OF 29
504	504	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 30 12 HOUSE BILL 735
505	505
506	506
507	507
508	508	(6) PROVIDE INCENTIVES FO R INCREASING THE USE OF REUSABLE 1
509	509	AND REFILLABLE BEVER AGE CONTAINERS ; AND 2
510	510
511	511	(7) REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 3
512	512	PRODUCTION , TRANSPORTATION , PROCESSING, AND WASTE DISPOSAL O F 4
513	513	SINGLE–USE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD IN THE STATE. 5
514	514
515	515	9–1735. 6
516	516
517	517	THERE IS A MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND AND 7
518	518	LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT . 8
519	519
520	520	9–1736. 9
521	521
522	522	PERFORMANCE TARGETS F OR THE PROGRAM ARE AS FOLLOW S: 10
523	523
524	524	(1) A 70% REDEMPTION RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2028; 11
525	525
526	526	(2) A 90% REDEMPTION RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2031; 12
527	527
528	528	(3) A 65% RECYCLING RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2028; 13
529	529
530	530	(4) AN 85% RECYCLING RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2031; 14
531	531
532	532	(5) BY DECEMBER 31, 2026, ATTAINMENT OF ALL CO NVENIENCE 15
533	533	STANDARDS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1747 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 16
534	534	AND 17
535	535
536	536	(6) BY DECEMBER 31, 2034, AT LEAST 10% OF ALL BEVERAGE 18
537	537	CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE ARE RETURNED AND R EFILLED. 19
538	538
539	539	9–1737. 20
540	540
541	541	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 21
542	542	BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027, EACH REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINER SOLD IN 22
543	543	THE STATE SHALL INCLUDE A DEPICTION OF THE FOL LOWING INFORMATION : 23
544	544
545	545	(I) THE WORD “MARYLAND” OR THE LETTERS “MD”; AND 24
546	546
547	547	(II) 1. FOR REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE CONTAINERS WITH A 25
548	548	VOLUME OF 24 FLUID OUNCES OR LESS , A REFUND VALUE OF 10 CENTS; OR 26
549	549	HOUSE BILL 735 13
550	550
551	551
552	552	2. FOR REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE CONTAINERS WITH A 1
553	553	VOLUME OF MORE THAN 24 FLUID OUNCES , A REFUND VALU E OF 15 CENTS. 2
554	554
555	555	(2) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADJUST THE REFUND VALUES SP ECIFIED 3
556	556	IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION : 4
557	557
558	558	(I) IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES ALTERING THE REFUND 5
559	559	VALUES IS NECESSARY TO MEET OR EXCEED PE RFORMANCE TARGETS ; OR 6
560	560
561	561	(II) AT THE REQUEST OF A BEVERAGE CONTAI NER 7
562	562	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION. 8
563	563
564	564	(3) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2031, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 9
565	565	INCREASE THE REFUND VALUES SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 10
566	566	BY 5 CENTS IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE 11
567	567	CALENDAR YEARS THE REDEMPTION RATE WAS LESS THAN 90% OF THE TOTAL 12
568	568	NUMBER OF BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS SOLD IN TH E STATE. 13
569	569
570	570	(B) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER D EPICTING THE INFORMA TION SPECIFIED IN 14
571	571	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE SOLD TO A CON SUMER BEFORE 15
572	572	JANUARY 1, 2027. 16
573	573
574	574	(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 17
575	575	BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027: 18
576	576
577	577	(I) THE WHOLESALE PRICE A ND THE RETAIL PRICE OF A FULL 19
578	578	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER SHALL INCL UDE THE REFUND VALUE OF THE 20
579	579	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER; AND 21
580	580
581	581	(II) A RETAILER SHALL INCLU DE ON A CUSTOMER ’S SALES 22
582	582	RECEIPT THE REFUND V ALUE OF A REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S OLD BY 23
583	583	THE RETAILER TO THE CUSTOMER. 24
584	584
585	585	(2) THE RETAIL PRICE OF A FULL REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE 25
586	586	CONTAINER SOLD BY AN ON–PREMISES SELLER MAY NOT INCLUD E THE REFUND 26
587	587	VALUE OF THE REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER. 27
588	588
589	589	9–1738. 28
590	590
591	591	(A) (1) THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE A RANGE OF OPTIONS F OR 29
592	592	CUSTOMERS TO CONVENI ENTLY REDEEM EMPTY R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 30
593	593	CONTAINERS FOR THE F ULL REFUND VALUE , INCLUDING: 31
594	594	14 HOUSE BILL 735
595	595
596	596
597	597	(I) AT A RETAILER’S PLACE OF BUSINESS THROUGH DIRECT 1
598	598	TAKE–BACK BY THE RETAILER , REVERSE VENDING MACH INES, A BAG DROP 2
599	599	PROGRAM, OR OTHER REDEMPTION METHODS; 3
600	600
601	601	(II) DEDICATED AND CONVENIENT LY LOCATED REDEMPTION 4
602	602	FACILITIES OPERATED BY RETAILER S, PUBLIC ENTITIES , OR A BEVERAGE 5
603	603	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION ; AND 6
604	604
605	605	(III) PLACING REDEEMABLE BE VERAGE CONTAINER 7
606	606	REDEMPTION AND PROCESSING METHODS, SUCH AS REVERSE VEND ING MACHINES , 8
607	607	BAG DROP PROGRAM S, AND ACCOUNT –BASED BULK PRO CESSING PROGRAMS , IN 9
608	608	AREAS: 10
609	609
610	610	1. WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF PEDESTRIANS ; AND 11
611	611
612	612	2. WHERE INDIVIDUALS PUR CHASE OR USE BEVERAG E 12
613	613	CONTAINERS. 13
614	614
615	615	(2) THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE A RANGE OF OPTIONS F OR 14
616	616	ON–PREMISES SELLERS TO CONVENIENTLY REDEEM EMPTY REDEEMABLE 15
617	617	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR THE FULL REFUND VALUE, INCLUDING: 16
618	618
619	619	(I) AN ACCOUNT –BASED REFUND ISSUED BY A BEVERAGE 17
620	620	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION OR IT S AGENTS FOLLOWING T HE 18
621	621	COLLECTION OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS BY THE BEVERAGE 19
622	622	CONTAINER STEWA RDSHIP ORGANIZATION OR ITS AGENTS FROM THE ON–PREMISES 20
623	623	SELLER; OR 21
624	624
625	625	(II) AN ACCOUNT–BASED REFUND ISSUED BY THE OPERATOR OF 22
626	626	A BAG DROP PROGRAM . 23
627	627
628	628	(B) (1) A PERSON SHALL APPLY T O THE DEPARTMENT FOR A LICE NSE TO 24
629	629	OPERATE A REDEMPTION FACILITY IN THE STATE. 25
630	630
631	631	(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVE LOP STANDARDS AND A 26
632	632	LICENSING PROCESS FO R THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF RED EMPTION 27
633	633	FACILITIES. 28
634	634
635	635	(C) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , A REDEMPTION 29
636	636	FACILITY SHALL ACCEP T ALL TYPES OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 30
637	637	CONTAINERS FOR REDEMP TION. 31
638	638	HOUSE BILL 735 15
639	639
640	640
641	641	(D) A RETAILER OR REDEMPTI ON FACILITY MAY REFU SE TO ACCEPT AN 1
642	642	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER THAT : 2
643	643
644	644	(1) IS DIRTY; 3
645	645
646	646	(2) IS BROKEN; 4
647	647
648	648	(3) CONTAINS MATERIAL FOR EIGN TO THE NORMAL C ONTENTS OF 5
649	649	THE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER; OR 6
650	650
651	651	(4) THE RETAILER OR REDEM PTION FACILITY BELIE VES WAS NOT 7
652	652	SOLD IN THE STATE. 8
653	653
654	654	(E) (1) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES TO A RETAILER WIT H AT LEAST 3,000 9
655	655	SQUARE FEET OF SALES FLOOR SPACE AND AT LEAST 150 SQUARE FEET OF SHELF 10
656	656	SPACE DEDICATED TO THE DIS PLAY OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS. 11
657	657
658	658	(2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , A RETAILER 12
659	659	SHALL: 13
660	660
661	661	(I) ESTABLISH AND MAINTAI N A DEDICATED AREA A T THE 14
662	662	RETAILER’S PLACE OF BUSINESS TO ACCEPT EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 15
663	663	CONTAINERS; 16
664	664
665	665	(II) ACCEPT AT THE RETAILER’S PLACE OF BUSINESS ANY 17
666	666	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER S RETURNED FOR REDEMPT ION 18
667	667	DURING THE RETAILER ’S BUSINESS HOURS ; AND 19
668	668
669	669	(III) PAY TO THE REDEEMER T HE REFUND VALUE FOR EACH 20
670	670	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEEMED . 21
671	671
672	672	(3) RETAILERS MAY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF 22
673	673	THIS SUBSECTION THROUGH VARI OUS METHODS , INCLUDING: 23
674	674
675	675	(I) SUPPLEMENTING THE MANUAL COLLECTION AN D STORING 24
676	676	OF REDEEMED REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS WITH A REVERSE VENDI NG 25
677	677	MACHINE, A BAG DROP PROGRAM, OR OTHER COUNTING AN D SORTING METHODS; 26
678	678	AND 27
679	679
680	680	(II) GROUPING BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION AND 28
681	681	PROCESSING METHODS WITH THOSE OF OTHER RETAILERS IF: 29
682	682	16 HOUSE BILL 735
683	683
684	684
685	685	1. A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 1
686	686	ORGANIZATION APPROVES THE PROPOSA L; AND 2
687	687
688	688	2. THE RETAILERS PARTICI PATING IN THE GROUPE D 3
689	689	METHODS PROVIDE CONSISTENT SERVICE , MARKETING, AND SITE REDEMPTION 4
690	690	LOCATIONS THAT COMPL Y WITH DISTANCE PROVISIONS DETERMINED BY THE 5
691	691	DEPARTMENT . 6
692	692
693	693	(4) A RETAILER WITHIN AN AREA THAT MEETS THE CONVE NIENCE 7
694	694	STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1747 OF THIS 8
695	695	SUBTITLE MAY BE EXEMPT FROM T HE REQUIREMENTS OF T HIS SUBSECTION IF TH E 9
696	696	RETAILER: 10
697	697
698	698	(I) IS LOCATED IN CLOSE P ROXIMITY TO A REDEMP TION 11
699	699	FACILITY IN THAT AREA; AND 12
700	700
701	701	(II) SHARES THE COST OF TH E OPERATION OF THE 13
702	702	REDEMPTION FACILITY WITH A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 14
703	703	ORGANIZATION . 15
704	704
705	705	(5) THE DEPARTMENT MAY: 16
706	706
707	707	(I) SET STANDARDS FOR THE NUMBER OF REVERSE VE NDING 17
708	708	MACHINES REQUIRED FO R RETAILERS LOCATED IN UNDERSERVED COMMUN ITIES; 18
709	709	AND 19
710	710
711	711	(II) ESTABLISH A CAP FOR THE NUMBER OF EMPTY 20
712	712	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT CAN BE REDEEMED PER VISI T AT 21
713	713	SMALL RETAILERS . 22
714	714
715	715	(F) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, A RETAILER WITH LESS 23
716	716	THAN 3,000 SQUARE FEET OF SALES FLOOR SPACE OR LESS THAN 150 SQUARE FEET 24
717	717	OF SHELF SPACE DEDICATED TO THE DIS PLAY OF REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE 25
718	718	CONTAINERS SHALL : 26
719	719
720	720	(1) PROVIDE ON–SITE CASH REFUNDS FOR THE REDEMPTION OF ANY 27
721	721	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER THAT IS OF THE SAME MATERIAL AND 28
722	722	SIZE AS THOSE THAT ARE SOLD BY THE RETAILER IF THE EMPTY REDEEMABLE 29
723	723	BEVERAGE CONTAINER BEING REDEEMED IS NOT ACCEPTED BY A RE VERSE 30
724	724	VENDING MACHINE ; AND 31
725	725
726	726	(2) POST AT THE RETAILER’S ENTRANCE THE ADDRESS OF THE 32
727	727	NEAREST REVERSE VEND ING MACHINE OR OTHER REDEMPTION METHOD THAT 33 HOUSE BILL 735 17
728	728
729	729
730	730	PROVIDES AN IMMEDIAT E CASH REFUND FOR REDEEMING EMPTY REDEEMABLE 1
731	731	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S. 2
732	732
733	733	(G) (1) A PERSON THAT PROVIDES A REVERSE VENDING MA CHINE FOR 3
734	734	THE REDEMPTION OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SHALL : 4
735	735
736	736	(I) PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR REDEEMING EMPTY REDEEMABLE 5
737	737	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS WHEN THE REVERSE VEN DING MACHINE IS FULL , BROKEN, 6
738	738	OR UNDER REPAIR ; AND 7
739	739
740	740	(II) PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR REDEEMING ANY EMPTY 8
741	741	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS NOT ACCEP TED BY THE REVERSE V ENDING 9
742	742	MACHINE. 10
743	743
744	744	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A PROCESS FOR 11
745	745	SUBMITTING FOR REVIE W, APPROVING, AND MONITORING AN AC COUNT–BASED 12
746	746	BULK PROCESSING PROG RAM THAT: 13
747	747
748	748	1. ENSURES THAT THE PROG RAM WILL ACCURATELY 14
749	749	REFUND DEPOSITS AND MAINTAIN AND REPORT DATA FROM EACH TRANS ACTION; 15
750	750	AND 16
751	751
752	752	2. IDENTIFIES THE INFORM ATION THAT MUST BE 17
753	753	SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL OF THE PROGRAM . 18
754	754
755	755	(II) A PERSON THAT INTENDS TO PROVIDE AN ACCOUN T–BASED 19
756	756	BULK PROCESSING PROG RAM FOR THE REDEMPTI ON OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE 20
757	757	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SHALL SUBMIT INFORMA TION IDENTIFIED UNDE R 21
758	758	SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL OF 22
759	759	THE PROGRAM . 23
760	760
761	761	(H) REFUNDS PROVIDED FOR AN EMPTY REDEEMED REDEEMABLE 24
762	762	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S HALL BE: 25
763	763
764	764	(1) IN CASH; 26
765	765
766	766	(2) IN THE FORM OF A RECE IPT FROM A REVERSE VEN DING MACHINE 27
767	767	IF: 28
768	768
769	769	(I) THE RECEIPT CAN BE EX CHANGED FOR CASH WIT HIN 60 29
770	770	DAYS AFTER THE RECEI PT IS ISSUED; AND 30
771	771	18 HOUSE BILL 735
772	772
773	773
774	774	(II) THERE IS NO REQUIREME NT THAT OTHER GOODS BE 1
775	775	PURCHASED TO RECEIVE THE CASH REFUND ; OR 2
776	776
777	777	(3) CREDITED TO AN ACCOUNT BY THE RECEIVER OF T HE EMPTY 3
778	778	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER SO THAT THE CONSUMER CAN RECEIVE THE 4
779	779	REFUND OR A REFUND R ECEIPT WITHIN A SPEC IFIED NUMBER OF DAYS , AS 5
780	780	DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT , AFTER REDEEMING THE EMPTY REDEEMABLE 6
781	781	BEVERAGE CONTAINER . 7
782	782
783	783	(I) (1) A REDEMPTION FACILITY , RETAILER, OR OTHER PERSON THAT 8
784	784	ACCEPTS REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINERS F OR REDEMPTION SHALL BE 9
785	785	REIMBURSED BY A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION OR ITS 10
786	786	AGENT FOR THE HANDLING OF EACH EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER 11
787	787	REDEEMED . 12
788	788
789	789	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SET A HANDLING FEE TO BE PAID 13
790	790	BY A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION OR ITS AGENT TO A 14
791	791	REDEMPTION FACILITY , RETAILER, OR OTHER PERSON THAT ACCEPTS EMPTY 15
792	792	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEM PTION. 16
793	793
794	794	(II) 1. THE HANDLING FEE SHAL L BE SET AT AN AMOUN T 17
795	795	THAT COVERS THE COST S OF COLLECTING , SORTING, PROCESSING, AND 18
796	796	TRANSPORTING EMPTY R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS FOR RECYCL ING, 19
797	797	REUSE, OR REFILLING. 20
798	798
799	799	2. THE DEPARTMENT MAY INCREA SE THE HANDLING 21
800	800	FEE IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES AN INCREASE IS NECES SARY TO ENCOURAGE 22
801	801	THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE REDEMPTION FACI LITIES. 23
802	802
803	803	(J) (1) AN ON–PREMISES SELLER THAT ACCEPTS EMPTY REDEEMABLE 24
804	804	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION SHALL BE REIMBURSED BY A BEVERAGE 25
805	805	CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON OR ITS AGENT FOR: 26
806	806
807	807	(I) THE REFUNDS PAID BY THE ON–PREMISES SELLER FOR THE 27
808	808	EMPTY REDEEMED REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS; AND 28
809	809
810	810	(II) THE HANDLING OF EACH EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 29
811	811	CONTAINER REDEEMED . 30
812	812
813	813	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SET A MATERIAL HANDLING FE E 31
814	814	TO BE PAID BY A BEVE RAGE CONTAINER STEWA RDSHIP ORGANIZATION OR ITS 32
815	815	AGENT TO AN ON –PREMISES SELLER THAT ACCEPTS EMPTY REDEEMABLE 33
816	816	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION . 34 HOUSE BILL 735 19
817	817
818	818
819	819
820	820	(II) THE HANDLING FEE SHAL L BE SET AT AN AMOUNT THAT 1
821	821	COVERS THE COSTS OF TEMPORARY STORAGE , PRELIMINARY SORTING , AND 2
822	822	PREPARING EACH REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEEMED FOR 3
823	823	COLLECTION. 4
824	824
825	825	(3) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION OR ITS 5
826	826	AGENT SHALL PROVIDE TO AN ON–PREMISES SELLER : 6
827	827
828	828	(I) ANY RECEPTACLES OR BA GS REQUIRED FOR THE 7
829	829	PRELIMINARY SORTING OF REDEEMED REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS BY 8
830	830	THE ON–PREMISES SELLER ; AND 9
831	831
832	832	(II) ANY LABELS NECESSARY FOR ATTRIBUTING THE 10
833	833	REDEEMED REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS TO THE ON–PREMISES SELLER. 11
834	834
835	835	(K) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR TH AT COLLECTS A DEPOSI T FROM A RETAILER , 12
836	836	REDEMPTION FACILITY , OR OTHER PERSON THAT ACCEPTS REDEEMABLE 13
837	837	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION SHALL ACCOUNT FOR ANY DEPO SITS IN 14
838	838	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–1739 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 15
839	839
840	840	(L) REDEEMED EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SHALL BE 16
841	841	COLLECTED FOR RETURN TO A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 17
842	842	ORGANIZATION FOR SALE AS SCRAP MA TERIAL TO FINANCE THE PROGRAM. 18
843	843
844	844	9–1739. 19
845	845
846	846	(A) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR SH ALL DEPOSIT ANY DEPO SITS COLLECTED 20
847	847	UNDER § 9–1738 OF THIS SUBTITLE INT O A DEPOSIT COLLECTI ON ACCOUNT THAT IS 21
848	848	MAINTAINED SEPARATEL Y FROM ALL OTHER REV ENUES. 22
849	849
850	850	(B) THE FUNDS IN THE DEPO SIT COLLECTION ACCOU NT MAY BE USED ONLY 23
851	851	TO PAY THE REFUND VA LUE OF AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER 24
852	852	BEING REDEEMED. 25
853	853
854	854	(C) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR SH ALL REPORT TO A BEVERAGE CONTAINER 26
855	855	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION, AT A FREQUENCY DETER MINED BY THE 27
856	856	DEPARTMENT , THE FOLLOWING INFORM ATION: 28
857	857
858	858	(1) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD 29
859	859	AND EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINERS REDEEMED SINCE THE L AST 30
860	860	REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 31
861	861	ORGANIZATION UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N; 32 20 HOUSE BILL 735
862	862
863	863
864	864
865	865	(2) THE FUNDS DEPOSITED I NTO THE DEPOSIT COLL ECTION 1
866	866	ACCOUNT AND THE REFU NDS ISSUED FROM THE DEPOSIT COLLECTION A CCOUNT 2
867	867	SINCE THE LAST REPOR T WAS SUBMITTED TO T HE BEVERAGE CONTAINER 3
868	868	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N; 4
869	869
870	870	(3) ANY INCOME EARNED ON THE FUNDS IN THE DEP OSIT 5
871	871	COLLECTION ACCOUNT S INCE THE LAST REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE 6
872	872	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION UNDER THIS SUBSECTIO N; 7
873	873
874	874	(4) THE BALANCE OF THE DE POSIT COLLECTION ACC OUNT; AND 8
875	875
876	876	(5) ANY OTHER INFORM ATION REQUIRED BY TH E DEPARTMENT . 9
877	877
878	878	(D) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETE RMINE THE POINT AT W HICH A 10
879	879	DEPOSIT BECOMES AN U NCLAIMED DEPOSIT . 11
880	880
881	881	(2) UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS AR E CALCULATED AS THE AMOUNT OF 12
882	882	FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO A DEPOSIT COLLECTION ACCOUNT THAT ARE IN EXCESS 13
883	883	OF THE SUM OF: 14
884	884
885	885	(I) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS ON THE DEPOSIT COLLE CTION 15
886	886	ACCOUNT DURING THE T IME FOR WHICH UNCLAI MED DEPOSITS ARE BEI NG 16
887	887	CALCULATED ; AND 17
888	888
889	889	(II) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF T HE REFUND VALUE RECE IVED FOR 18
890	890	THE EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS R EDEEMED DURING THE T IME 19
891	891	FOR WHICH THE UNCLAI MED DEPOSITS ARE BEI NG CALCULATED . 20
892	892
893	893	(3) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR SH ALL TRANSFER ALL UNCLAIMED 21
894	894	DEPOSITS TO A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION AT A 22
895	895	FREQUENCY DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 23
896	896
897	897	(4) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION SHALL: 24
898	898
899	899	(I) ESTABLISH A RESERVE ACCOUNT TO MANAGE ALL 25
900	900	UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS ; AND 26
901	901
902	902	(II) TRANSFER 10% OF ALL UNCLAIMED DEP OSITS TO THE 27
903	903	DEPARTMENT WITH A FREQUENCY DET ERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 28
904	904	HOUSE BILL 735 21
905	905
906	906
907	907	(5) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION SHALL 1
908	908	USE THE FUNDS IN THE RESERVE ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED UNDER PARAGRAPH (4) 2
909	909	OF THIS SUBSECTION TO: 3
910	910
911	911	(I) ACHIEVE THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY STATED 4
912	912	IN § 9–1734 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 5
913	913
914	914	(II) MEET OR EXCEED THE PERFORMAN CE TARGETS 6
915	915	ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 7
916	916
917	917	(6) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL TRAN SFER ANY UNCLAIMED 8
918	918	DEPOSITS RECEIVED UN DER THIS PARAGRAPH T O THE STATE RECYCLING TRUST 9
919	919	FUND UNDER § 9–1707(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 10
920	920
921	921	(II) THE UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS TRANSFE RRED TO THE STATE 11
922	922	RECYCLING TRUST FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR THE COSTS OF ADM INISTERING 12
923	923	AND FINANCING THE GRANT PROGRAM UNDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 13
924	924
925	925	9–1740. 14
926	926
927	927	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THIS SECTION 15
928	928	APPLIES TO A PRODUCER THAT S ELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE , OR DISTRIBUTES 16
929	929	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN THE STATE. 17
930	930
931	931	(2) (I) IF THE BEVERAGE CONTA INER IS SOLD UNDER T HE 18
932	932	PRODUCER’S OWN BRAND OR LACKS IDENTIFICATION OF A BRAND, THE PRODUCER 19
933	933	IS THE PERSON THAT M ANUFACTURES THE REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER . 20
934	934
935	935	(II) IF THE REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER IS 21
936	936	MANUFACTURED BY A PE RSON OTHER THAN THE BRAND OWNER , THE PRODUCER IS 22
937	937	THE PERSON THAT IS T HE LICENSEE OF A BRA ND OR TRADEMARK UNDE R WHICH A 23
938	938	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER IS SOLD , OFFERED FOR SALE , OR 24
939	939	DISTRIBUTED IN THE STATE, WHETHER OR NOT THE T RADEMARK IS REGISTER ED IN 25
940	940	THE STATE, UNLESS ANOTHER RESPO NSIBLE PERSON HAS CO NTRACTUALLY 26
941	941	ACCEPTED RESPONSIBIL ITY AS THE PRODUCER AND HAS JOINED A BEVERAGE 27
942	942	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION AS TH E PRODUCER RESPONSIB LE FOR 28
943	943	THE REDEEMABLE BEVER AGE CONTAINER UNDER THIS SECTION . 29
944	944
945	945	(III) IF THERE IS NO PERSON DESCRIBED IN THIS PA RAGRAPH 30
946	946	OVER WHOM THE STATE CAN CONSTITUTIO NALLY EXERCISE JURIS DICTION, THE 31
947	947	PRODUCER IS THE PERS ON THAT IMPORTS OR D ISTRIBUTES THE REDEE MABLE 32
948	948	BEVERAGE CONTAINER I N THE STATE. 33
949	949	22 HOUSE BILL 735
950	950
951	951
952	952	(3) IF ANOTHER PERSON CONTRACTUALLY ACCEPT S 1
953	953	RESPONSIBILITY AS A PRODUCER UNDER PARAGRAPH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION, 2
954	954	THE PRODUCER MUST PR OVIDE A CERTIFIED COPY OF TH E CONTRACTUAL 3
955	955	AGREEMENT TO THE RELEVANT BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 4
956	956	ORGANIZATION . 5
957	957
958	958	(B) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027, A PRODUCER MAY NOT S ELL, OFFER FOR 6
959	959	SALE, OR DISTRIBUTE IN OR IMPORT INTO THE STATE A REDEEMABLE BE VERAGE 7
960	960	CONTAINER UNL ESS THE PRODUCER : 8
961	961
962	962	(1) IS REGISTERED WITH TH E DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH 9
963	963	THIS SECTION; 10
964	964
965	965	(2) HAS PAID THE REGISTRA TION FEE UNDER SUBSE CTION (F) OF 11
966	966	THIS SECTION; AND 12
967	967
968	968	(3) IS PART OF A BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP 13
969	969	ORGANIZATION THAT: 14
970	970
971	971	(I) HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 15
972	972	9–1741 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; AND 16
973	973
974	974	(II) HAS A BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN 17
975	975	APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 18
976	976
977	977	(C) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2026, A BEVERAGE 19
978	978	CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION REPRESE NTING A PRODUCER SHALL 20
979	979	PROVIDE TO THE DEPARTMENT : 21
980	980
981	981	(1) A LIST OF EACH PRODUCER PARTICIPATING IN THE BEVERAGE 22
982	982	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION ; AND 23
983	983
984	984	(2) FOR EACH PRODUCER , THE REGISTRATION FORM REQUIRED 24
985	985	UNDER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION. 25
986	986
987	987	(D) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CREA TE A REGISTRATION FO RM THAT 26
988	988	REQUIRES EACH PRODUC ER PARTICIPATING IN THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER 27
989	989	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION TO PROVIDE THE FOLLO WING INFORMATION : 28
990	990
991	991	(I) THE NAME, PRIMARY BUSINESS ADDRESS, AND CONTACT 29
992	992	INFORMATION OF THE P ERSON RESPONSIBLE FO R ENSURING COMPLIANC E WITH 30
993	993	THIS PART; 31
994	994	HOUSE BILL 735 23
995	995
996	996
997	997	(II) A LIST OF EACH BRAND O F REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 1
998	998	CONTAINERS THAT THE PRODUCER INTENDS TO SELL, OFFER FOR SALE , OR 2
999	999	DISTRIBUTE IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE SIZE AND MATERIA L OF THE 3
1000	1000	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR EACH BRAND; 4
1001	1001
1002	1002	(III) FOR EACH REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINER SP ECIFIED 5
1003	1003	IN THE REGISTRATION , WHETHER THE REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R: 6
1004	1004
1005	1005	1. IS REFILLABLE; AND 7
1006	1006
1007	1007	2. DEPICTS A UPC OR MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC 8
1008	1008	BARCODE; 9
1009	1009
1010	1010	(IV) HOW EACH PRODUCER WIL L PREVENT THE FRAUDU LENT 10
1011	1011	SALE AND REDEMPTION OF REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE CONTAINERS THAT W ERE NOT 11
1012	1012	SOLD IN THE STATE; 12
1013	1013
1014	1014	(V) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS 13
1015	1015	EACH PRODUCER SOLD I N THE STATE IN THE IMMEDIATELY PREC EDING CALENDAR 14
1016	1016	YEAR; AND 15
1017	1017
1018	1018	(VI) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE 16
1019	1019	DEPARTMENT . 17
1020	1020
1021	1021	(2) A PRODUCER SHALL SUBMI T A COMPLETED REGIST RATION FORM 18
1022	1022	TO THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP OR GANIZATION THAT REPR ESENTS 19
1023	1023	THE PRODUCER . 20
1024	1024
1025	1025	(E) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2026, AND WITH A FREQUENCY AS 21
1026	1026	DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT THEREAFTER , EACH PRODUCER SHALL PAY A 22
1027	1027	REGISTRATION FEE EST ABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SUBS ECTION (F) OF 23
1028	1028	THIS SECTION. 24
1029	1029
1030	1030	(F) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH AN ANNUAL REGI STRATION 25
1031	1031	FEE FOR PRODUCERS TH AT SELL REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINERS I N THE 26
1032	1032	STATE. 27
1033	1033
1034	1034	(2) THE REGISTRATION FEE SHALL BE SET IN A MA NNER THAT: 28
1035	1035
1036	1036	(I) WHEN TAKEN IN COMBINA TION WITH ANTICIPATE D 29
1037	1037	REVENUES FROM PENALT IES COLLECTED UNDER § 9–1750 OF THIS SUBTITLE, WILL 30
1038	1038	PRODUCE FUNDS SUFFIC IENT TO COVER THE DEPARTMENT ’S ESTIMATED COSTS OF 31 24 HOUSE BILL 735
1039	1039
1040	1040
1041	1041	PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND 1
1042	1042	EVALUATING THE PROGRAM FOR THE UPCOM ING YEAR; 2
1043	1043
1044	1044	(II) FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM DURING WHICH 3
1045	1045	REGISTRATION FEES ARE COLLECTED , SHALL COVER THE START–UP COSTS OF THE 4
1046	1046	PROGRAM THAT WERE INCURRED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND FINANCED FROM THE 5
1047	1047	GENERAL FUND; AND 6
1048	1048
1049	1049	(III) IS PROPORTIONAL TO A PRODUCER’S SHARE OF THE TOTAL 7
1050	1050	NUMBER OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE FOR THE 8
1051	1051	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G CALENDAR YEAR . 9
1052	1052
1053	1053	(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 10
1054	1054
1055	1055	(I) IF THE REVENUES FROM THE REGISTRATION FEE S IN THE 11
1056	1056	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G YEAR EXCEED THE CO STS SPECIFIED IN PAR AGRAPH 12
1057	1057	(2)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION , CARRY THE EXCESS REV ENUES FORWARD TO RED UCE 13
1058	1058	REGISTRATION FEES TH E FOLLOWING YEAR ; AND 14
1059	1059
1060	1060	(II) IF THE REVENUES FROM THE REGISTRATION FEE S IN THE 15
1061	1061	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G YEAR DO NOT COVER THE COSTS SPECIFIED IN 16
1062	1062	PARAGRAPH (2)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION , ADJUST REGI STRATION FEES FOR TH E 17
1063	1063	FOLLOWING YEAR TO AN AMOUNT THAT WILL COV ER THE DEPARTMENT ’S ACTUAL 18
1064	1064	COSTS FROM THE IMMED IATELY PRECEDING YEA R. 19
1065	1065
1066	1066	(4) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 20
1067	1067	PARAGRAPH , REGISTRATION FEES COL LECTED UNDER THIS SU BSECTION SH ALL BE: 21
1068	1068
1069	1069	1. TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE RECYCLING TRUST 22
1070	1070	FUND UNDER § 9–1707(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 23
1071	1071
1072	1072	2. USED ONLY TO COVER TH E DEPARTMENT ’S COSTS OF 24
1073	1073	PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND 25
1074	1074	EVALUATING THE PROGRAM. 26
1075	1075
1076	1076	(II) THE PORTION OF THE RE GISTRATION FEES THAT COVERED 27
1077	1077	THE START–UP COSTS OF THE PROGRAM AND WERE FINANCED FR OM THE GENERAL 28
1078	1078	FUND DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM FOR WHICH REGISTRATI ON FEES 29
1079	1079	ARE COLLECTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH P ARAGRAPH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECT ION 30
1080	1080	SHALL BE DEPOSITED I NTO THE GENERAL FUND. 31
1081	1081
1082	1082	9–1741. 32
1083	1083	HOUSE BILL 735 25
1084	1084
1085	1085
1086	1086	(A) ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ACCE PT 1
1087	1087	APPLICATIONS FROM BE VERAGE CONTAINER STE WARDSHIP ORGANIZATIO NS TO 2
1088	1088	REPRESENT PRODUCERS IN FULFILLING THE RE QUIREMENTS OF THIS PART. 3
1089	1089
1090	1090	(B) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT MAY APPROV E, 4
1091	1091	FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 10 YEARS, A SINGLE BEVERAGE CO NTAINER 5
1092	1092	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION AS A SYSTEM OPE RATOR FOR THE PROGRAM IF THE 6
1093	1093	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION DEMONSTRATES THA T IT 7
1094	1094	HAS: 8
1095	1095
1096	1096	(1) THE ABILITY, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT , TO 9
1097	1097	ADMINISTER THE REQUI REMENTS OF A BEVERAG E CONTAINER STEWARDS HIP PLAN 10
1098	1098	UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 11
1099	1099
1100	1100	(2) A GOVERNING BOARD CONS ISTING OF PRODUCERS THAT 12
1101	1101	REPRESENT THE DIVERSITY OF APPLICABLE REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS 13
1102	1102	IN THE MARKET ; 14
1103	1103
1104	1104	(3) SET NO UNREASONABLE B ARRIERS TO JOINING T HE BEVERAGE 15
1105	1105	CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION AND WILL TAKE I NTO CONSIDERATION 16
1106	1106	THE NEEDS OF SMALL PRODUCERS THAT DO NOT GENERATE A HIGH VOLUME OF 17
1107	1107	CONTAINERS; 18
1108	1108
1109	1109	(4) ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RE SPONSIBILITY AND SAFEGUARDS , 19
1110	1110	INCLUDING FRAUD PREV ENTION MEASURES AND AN AUDIT SCHEDULE ; 20
1111	1111
1112	1112	(5) THE ABILITY TO SECURE THE CAPITAL NECESSAR Y FOR THE 21
1113	1113	INITIAL INVESTMENT I N INFRASTRUCTURE , SORTING EQUIPMENT , SOFTWARE, 22
1114	1114	TRANSPORTATION , AND OTHER START–UP EXPENSES; AND 23
1115	1115
1116	1116	(6) MET ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS SET BY THE DEPARTMENT . 24
1117	1117
1118	1118	(C) THE DEPARTMENT MAY RENEW THE APPROVAL OF A BEVERAGE 25
1119	1119	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION AS A SYSTEM OPERATOR UNDER 26
1120	1120	SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION IF THE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER STEWARDSHIP 27
1121	1121	ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO MEET TH E REQUIREMENTS OF TH IS SECTION AND 28
1122	1122	ANY OTHER REQUIREMEN T SET BY THE DEPARTMENT . 29
1123	1123
1124	1124	(D) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVO KE THE APPROVAL OF A 30
1125	1125	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION AS A SYSTEM OPERATOR IF 31
1126	1126	THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 32
1127	1127	ORGANIZATION : 33
1128	1128	26 HOUSE BILL 735
1129	1129
1130	1130
1131	1131	(I) FAILED TO MEET THE REQUIREM ENTS OF THIS SECTION; OR 1
1132	1132
1133	1133	(II) FAILED TO IMPLEMENT AND ADM INISTER AN APPROVED 2
1134	1134	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–1742 OF 3
1135	1135	THIS SUBTITLE. 4
1136	1136
1137	1137	(2) IF THE DEPARTMENT REVOKES THE APPROVAL OF A BEVERA GE 5
1138	1138	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION AS A SYSTEM OPERATOR UNDER 6
1139	1139	PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION : 7
1140	1140
1141	1141	(I) THE DEPARTMENT MAY APPROV E ONE OR MORE 8
1142	1142	ADDITIONAL BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT IONS TO CARRY OUT 9
1143	1143	THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP 10
1144	1144	ORGANIZATION THAT WAS REVOKED AS A SYSTEM OPERATOR , SUBJECT TO ONE OR 11
1145	1145	MORE OF THE ADDITIONAL BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATIONS 12
1146	1146	MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFI ED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; AND 13
1147	1147
1148	1148	(II) THE TRUSTEE OR ESCROW AGENT OF THE TRUST FUND OR 14
1149	1149	ESCROW ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED IN THE B EVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP 15
1150	1150	PLAN UNDER § 9–1742(A)(3)(VI) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHALL: 16
1151	1151
1152	1152	1. RECEIVE ALL PAYMENTS DIRECTLY FR OM 17
1153	1153	PRODUCERS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID TO THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER 18
1154	1154	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION; 19
1155	1155
1156	1156	2. DEPOSIT THE PAYMENTS RECEIVED UNDER ITEM 1 OF 20
1157	1157	THIS ITEM INTO THE TRUST FUND OR ESCROW ACCOUNT; AND 21
1158	1158
1159	1159	3. MAKE PAYMENTS FROM THE TRUST FUND OR ESCROW 22
1160	1160	ACCOUNT AS DIRECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEME NT THE REQUIREMENTS 23
1161	1161	OF THIS PART. 24
1162	1162
1163	1163	9–1742. 25
1164	1164
1165	1165	(A) (1) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2026, EACH BEVERAGE CONTAINER 26
1166	1166	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION SHALL SUBMIT A BEVERAGE CONTAINER 27
1167	1167	STEWARDSHIP PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT . 28
1168	1168
1169	1169	(2) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN SHAL L: 29
1170	1170
1171	1171	(I) IDENTIFY AND INCLUDE THE CONTACT INFORMAT ION FOR 30
1172	1172	EACH PRODUCER INTEND ED TO BE COVERED UND ER THE PLAN; 31
1173	1173	HOUSE BILL 735 27
1174	1174
1175	1175
1176	1176	(II) IDENTIFY EACH BRAND O F REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 1
1177	1177	CONTAINER INTENDED TO BE SOLD UNDER THE PLAN, INCLUDING THE SIZE A ND 2
1178	1178	MATERIAL OF THE REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINERS FOR EACH BRAN D AND 3
1179	1179	WHETHER THE REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS ARE REFILLABLE ; 4
1180	1180
1181	1181	(III) DESCRIBE: 5
1182	1182
1183	1183	1. THE FINANCING INFORMA TION SPECIFIED IN 6
1184	1184	PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION ; 7
1185	1185
1186	1186	2. HOW THE PERFORMANCE T ARGETS WILL BE MET O R 8
1187	1187	EXCEEDED FOR THE 5–YEAR PERIOD FOLLOWIN G THE YEAR IN WHICH THE PLAN IS 9
1188	1188	APPROVED; 10
1189	1189
1190	1190	3. HOW STAKEHOLDER COMME NTS WERE CONSIDERED 11
1191	1191	AND REFLECTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE P LAN, INCLUDING THE ROLE O F 12
1192	1192	RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS , AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT S IN PLAN IMPLEMENTA TION; 13
1193	1193
1194	1194	4. THE ADMINISTRATION AN D IMPLEMENTATION OF 14
1195	1195	THE PLAN, INCLUDING ANY STAFFI NG THAT WILL BE NECE SSARY FOR THESE 15
1196	1196	PURPOSES; 16
1197	1197
1198	1198	5. THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND THAT 17
1199	1199	WILL BE TAKEN FOR PU BLIC OUTREACH , EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION , 18
1200	1200	INCLUDING MESSAGING AND IDENTIFICATION O F TARGET AUDIENCES ; AND 19
1201	1201
1202	1202	6. THE ANTICIPATED INVES TMENTS THAT WILL BE 20
1203	1203	MADE TO IMPROVE THE REUSE OF BEVERAGE CO NTAINERS, INCLUDING THE 21
1204	1204	SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR THE INVESTMENTS ; 22
1205	1205
1206	1206	(IV) LIST THE STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTED IN DEVELOP ING THE 23
1207	1207	PLAN; 24
1208	1208
1209	1209	(V) PROVIDE THE ANTICIPAT ED COSTS OF IMPLEMEN TING THE 25
1210	1210	PLAN FOR 5 YEARS, BROKEN DOWN BY YEAR ; 26
1211	1211
1212	1212	(VI) INCLUDE A CLOSURE AND TRANSFER PLAN FOR HANDLING 27
1213	1213	THE AFFAIRS OF THE B EVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON THAT 28
1214	1214	ENSURES THAT EACH PRODUCER INTEND ED TO BE COVERED UND ER THE BEVERAGE 29
1215	1215	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN CAN FULFILL THE PRODUCER’S OBLIGATIONS IN 30
1216	1216	THE EVENT THAT THE BEVERAGE CO NTAINER STE WARDSHIP ORGANIZATIO N 31
1217	1217	DISSOLVES OR HAS ITS APPROVAL AS A SYSTEM OPERATOR REVOKED UNDER § 32
1218	1218	9–1741 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; AND 33 28 HOUSE BILL 735
1219	1219
1220	1220
1221	1221
1222	1222	(VII) INCLUDE ANY OTHER INF ORMATION REQUESTED B Y THE 1
1223	1223	DEPARTMENT . 2
1224	1224
1225	1225	(3) THE FINANCING INFORMA TION INCLUDED IN A B EVERAGE 3
1226	1226	CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN SHA LL: 4
1227	1227
1228	1228	(I) EXPLAIN THE FINANCING FOR DIRECT INVESTMEN TS OR 5
1229	1229	REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WILL IMPROVE INFRAST RUCTURE IN A MANNER THAT 6
1230	1230	SUPPORTS REDEMPTION SERVICES AND TECHNOL OGIES; 7
1231	1231
1232	1232	(II) ESTABLISH A FEE STRUC TURE IN ACCORDANCE W ITH 8
1233	1233	PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION F OR PRODUCERS PARTICI PATING IN A 9
1234	1234	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION; 10
1235	1235
1236	1236	(III) DESCRIBE THE COSTS OF MEETING THE PERFORMA NCE 11
1237	1237	TARGETS; 12
1238	1238
1239	1239	(IV) DESCRIBE THE INCENTIV ES USED TO ENCOURAGE 13
1240	1240	PRODUCERS TO : 14
1241	1241
1242	1242	1. INVEST IN REUSABLE AND REFILLA BLE BEVERAGE 15
1243	1243	CONTAINER SYSTEMS ; AND 16
1244	1244
1245	1245	2. REDESIGN BEVERAGE CON TAINERS TO BE EASIER 17
1246	1246	AND LESS COSTLY TO R ECYCLE; 18
1247	1247
1248	1248	(V) CREATE INCENTIVES FOR PRODUCERS TO USE A 19
1249	1249	MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE TO REDUCE FR AUDULENT REDEMPTION ; 20
1250	1250
1251	1251	(VI) ESTABLISH A TRUST FUN D OR AN ESCROW ACCOU NT IN THE 21
1252	1252	STATE INTO WHICH A BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION SHALL 22
1253	1253	DEPOSIT ALL UNEXPEND ED FUNDS FOR USE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION IN 23
1254	1254	THE EVENT THAT THE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER STEWARDSHIP ORGAN IZATION 24
1255	1255	DISSOLVES OR HAS ITS APPROVAL AS A SYSTEM OPERATOR REVOKED BY THE 25
1256	1256	DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1741 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 26
1257	1257
1258	1258	(VII) MEET ANY OTHER REQUIR EMENTS ESTABLISHED B Y THE 27
1259	1259	DEPARTMENT . 28
1260	1260
1261	1261	(4) (I) THE FEE STRUCTURE REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH (3) OF 29
1262	1262	THIS SUBSECTION FOR PRODUCERS PARTICIPAT ING IN A BEVERAGE CO NTAINER 30
1263	1263	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION SHALL BE: 31 HOUSE BILL 735 29
1264	1264
1265	1265
1266	1266
1267	1267	1. SET IN A MANNER THAT COVERS THE COSTS OF 1
1268	1268	ADMINISTERING A BEVE RAGE CONTAINER STEWA RDSHIP ORGANIZATION AND 2
1269	1269	IMPLEMENTING THE BEVER AGE CONTAINER STEWAR DSHIP PLAN; AND 3
1270	1270
1271	1271	2. BASED ON: 4
1272	1272
1273	1273	A. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORTING , 5
1274	1274	COLLECTING, AND PROCESSING EACH TYPE OF REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE 6
1275	1275	CONTAINER MATERIAL ; 7
1276	1276
1277	1277	B. WHETHER A PRODUCER ’S REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 8
1278	1278	CONTAINERS ARE REFILLABLE ; 9
1279	1279
1280	1280	C. WHETHER A PRODUCER ’S EMPTY REDEEMABLE 10
1281	1281	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ARE EASY TO RECYCLE ; 11
1282	1282
1283	1283	D. WHETHER A PRODUCER ’S REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 12
1284	1284	CONTAINERS HAVE A MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE; 13
1285	1285
1286	1286	E. A PRODUCER’S PORTION, BY MATERIAL TYPE , OF 14
1287	1287	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE DURING THE PREV IOUS 15
1288	1288	CALENDAR YEAR ; AND 16
1289	1289
1290	1290	F. ANY OTHER FACTOR THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES 17
1291	1291	IS NECESSARY TO SUPP ORT THE PROGRAM. 18
1292	1292
1293	1293	(II) 1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 9–1741(D)(2) OF THIS 19
1294	1294	SUBTITLE, A PRODUCER PARTICIPATING IN A B EVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP 20
1295	1295	ORGANIZATION SHALL P AY THE FEE ESTABLISH ED UNDER PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS 21
1296	1296	SUBSECTION TO THE BE VERAGE CONTAINER STE WARDSHIP ORGANIZATIO N. 22
1297	1297
1298	1298	2. A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 23
1299	1299	ORGANIZATION SHALL D EPOSIT FEES RECEIVED UNDER THI S SUBPARAGRAPH TO AN 24
1300	1300	ACCOUNT HELD BY THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION. 25
1301	1301
1302	1302	3. A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 26
1303	1303	ORGANIZATION MAY USE THE FEES RECEIVED UN DER THIS SUBPARAGRAP H ONLY 27
1304	1304	FOR IMPLEMENTING THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN . 28
1305	1305
1306	1306	(5) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBM IT A BEVERAGE CONTAI NER 29
1307	1307	STEWARDSHIP PLAN TO AN INDEPENDENT FINAN CIAL AUDITOR TO ENSU RE THAT 30 30 HOUSE BILL 735
1308	1308
1309	1309
1310	1310	THE FINANCING PROPOS ED IN THE PLAN WILL COVER THE COSTS OF I MPLEMENTING 1
1311	1311	THE PLAN. 2
1312	1312
1313	1313	(B) (1) (I) WITHIN 120 DAYS AFT ER RECEIPT OF A BEVE RAGE 3
1314	1314	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS 4
1315	1315	SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL APPR OVE, APPROVE WITH CONDITI ONS, OR 5
1316	1316	DENY THE PLAN . 6
1317	1317
1318	1318	(II) IN DETERMINING WHETHE R TO APPROVE , APPROVE WITH 7
1319	1319	CONDITIONS, OR DENY A BEVE RAGE CONTAINER STEWA RDSHIP PLAN , THE 8
1320	1320	DEPARTMENT SHALL : 9
1321	1321
1322	1322	1. CONSIDER WHETHER : 10
1323	1323
1324	1324	A. THE PLAN COMPLIES WIT H THE REQUIREMENTS O F 11
1325	1325	THIS SECTION; AND 12
1326	1326
1327	1327	B. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT ENGAGEMENT WITH 13
1328	1328	STAKEHOLDERS , INCLUDING LOCAL GOVE RNMENTS, RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS, 14
1329	1329	AND ON–PREMISES SELLERS , IN DEVELOPING THE PL AN; AND 15
1330	1330
1331	1331	2. CONSULT WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. 16
1332	1332
1333	1333	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT MAY RESCIN D APPROVAL OF A 17
1334	1334	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN FOR GOOD CAUSE. 18
1335	1335
1336	1336	(II) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZ ATION 19
1337	1337	MAY AMEND A RESCINDE D BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN AND SUBMIT 20
1338	1338	THE AMENDED PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL. 21
1339	1339
1340	1340	(3) (I) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN APPR OVED 22
1341	1341	BY THE DEPARTMENT MAY BE AME NDED WITH APPROVAL O F THE DEPARTMENT . 23
1342	1342
1343	1343	(II) THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIR E THAT AN APPROVED 24
1344	1344	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN BE A MENDED IF THE REPORT 25
1345	1345	SUBMITTED UNDER § 9–1743 OF THIS SUBTITLE REF LECTS THAT THE 26
1346	1346	PERFORMANCE TARGETS HAVE NOT BEEN MET . 27
1347	1347
1348	1348	(C) AN APPROVED BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN EXPIRES AT 28
1349	1349	THE END OF 5 YEARS. 29
1350	1350	HOUSE BILL 735 31
1351	1351
1352	1352
1353	1353	(D) (1) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION SHALL 1
1354	1354	IMPLEMENT AND ADMINI STER A BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP PL AN 2
1355	1355	WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PLA N IS APPROVED. 3
1356	1356
1357	1357	(2) IN IMPLEMENTING AND A DMINISTERING A BEVER AGE CONTAINER 4
1358	1358	STEWARDSHIP PLAN , A BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION 5
1359	1359	SHALL: 6
1360	1360
1361	1361	(I) FACILITATE LOGISTICS , THE INITIATION OF DE POSITS, AND 7
1362	1362	THE ISSUANCE OF REFU NDS UNDER THE PLAN ; 8
1363	1363
1364	1364	(II) COORDINATE THE LOGIST ICS FOR COLLECTING 9
1365	1365	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FROM AN ON –PREMISES SELLER ; 10
1366	1366
1367	1367	(III) ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR TRACKING REDEEMA BLE 11
1368	1368	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE; 12
1369	1369
1370	1370	(IV) DESIGN AND OPERATE SE RVICES FOR THE 13
1371	1371	TRANSPORTATION AND P ROCESSING OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS; 14
1372	1372
1373	1373	(V) DEVELOP AN D IMPLEMENT A PLAN F OR ESTABLISHING , 15
1374	1374	OPERATING, AND MANAGING REDEMPT ION FACILITIES THAT WILL OFFER A WIDE 16
1375	1375	RANGE OF CONVENIENT REDEMPTION LOCATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES THA T ARE 17
1376	1376	EASY TO USE, ACCESSIBLE, AND MEET OR EXCEED T HE CONVENIENCE STAND ARDS 18
1377	1377	ESTABLISHED B Y THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1747 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 19
1378	1378
1379	1379	(VI) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR THE DISTR IBUTION, 20
1380	1380	OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF B EVERAGE CONTAINER RE DEMPTION AND 21
1381	1381	PROCESSING METHODS , INCLUDING REVERSE VE NDING MACHINES , BAG DROP 22
1382	1382	PROGRAM S, AND ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAMS ; 23
1383	1383
1384	1384	(VII) DEVELOP ACCOUNTING AN D CONTROL STANDARDS ; 24
1385	1385
1386	1386	(VIII) IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTING , AUDIT, PAYMENT, AND 25
1387	1387	REPORTING PROCEDURES ; 26
1388	1388
1389	1389	(IX) ESTABLISH A HIGH –VOLUME VALIDATION AN D AUDIT 27
1390	1390	SYSTEM TO PAY A BULK RATE TO AN ON–PREMISES SELLER FOR T HE REDEMPTION 28
1391	1391	OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 29
1392	1392
1393	1393	(X) ESTABLISH AN APPLICAT ION PROCESS FOR LARG E 30
1394	1394	ON–PREMISES SELLERS TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIV E A BULK RATE FOR TH E 31
1395	1395	REDEMPTION OF HIGH V OLUMES OF EMPTY REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS; 32 32 HOUSE BILL 735
1396	1396
1397	1397
1398	1398
1399	1399	(XI) MARKET REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER MATE RIALS 1
1400	1400	FOR REUSE IN THE MAN UFACTURING OF SIMILA R PRODUCTS; 2
1401	1401
1402	1402	(XII) FUND A MARKETING PROG RAM TO EDUCATE THE P UBLIC 3
1403	1403	ABOUT THE PROGRAM; 4
1404	1404
1405	1405	(XIII) ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FO R REPORTING KEY INFO RMATION 5
1406	1406	GATHERED BY THE PROGRAM TO THE DEPARTMENT ON A QUART ERLY BASIS; AND 6
1407	1407
1408	1408	(XIV) CREATE INCENTIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 7
1409	1409	REFILLABLE AND REUSA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER SYSTEMS. 8
1410	1410
1411	1411	(3) ON REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT , A BEVERAGE CONTAINER 9
1412	1412	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION SHALL SUBMIT A COPY OF ITS FINANCIAL RECORD S 10
1413	1413	TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR A FINA NCIAL AUDIT. 11
1414	1414
1415	1415	9–1743. 12
1416	1416
1417	1417	(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO A BEVERAGE CONTAI NER STEWARDSHIP 13
1418	1418	ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN APP ROVED 14
1419	1419	BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 15
1420	1420
1421	1421	(B) (1) ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2028, A 16
1422	1422	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION SHALL SUBMIT A R EPORT TO 17
1423	1423	THE DEPARTMENT ON THE PRO GRESS MADE IN THE PR ECEDING CALENDAR YEA R 18
1424	1424	TOWARD MEETING THE P ERFORMANCE TAR GETS AND THE GOALS O F THE PROGRAM 19
1425	1425	AND THE BEVERAGE CON TAINER STEWARDSHIP O RGANIZATION’S BEVERAGE 20
1426	1426	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN. 21
1427	1427
1428	1428	(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE THE ADVISORY COUNCIL 22
1429	1429	WITH A COPY OF EACH REPORT SUBMITTED UND ER THIS SUBSECTION . 23
1430	1430
1431	1431	(C) THE REPORT SUBMITTED UNDER S UBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION 24
1432	1432	SHALL INCLUDE , FOR THE PRECEDING CA LENDAR YEAR : 25
1433	1433
1434	1434	(1) THE PROGRESS MADE TOW ARD ACHIEVING THE PE RFORMANCE 26
1435	1435	TARGETS; 27
1436	1436
1437	1437	(2) IF THE PERFORMANCE TA RGETS WERE NOT ACHIE VED, A 28
1438	1438	DESCRIPTION OF THE A CTIONS PROPOSED TO ACHIEVE THE PERFO RMANCE 29
1439	1439	TARGETS; 30
1440	1440	HOUSE BILL 735 33
1441	1441
1442	1442
1443	1443	(3) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD IN 1
1444	1444	THE STATE; 2
1445	1445
1446	1446	(4) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD IN 3
1447	1447	THE STATE SORTED BY MATER IAL TYPE, REFUND VALUE , AND WHETHER THE 4
1448	1448	CONTAINER CAN BE REFILLED OR REUSED ; 5
1449	1449
1450	1450	(5) THE NUMBER OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS 6
1451	1451	REDEEMED ; 7
1452	1452
1453	1453	(6) THE NUMBER OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS 8
1454	1454	REDEEMED AT EACH RED EMPTION FACILITY , REVERSE VENDING MACH INE, BAG 9
1455	1455	DROP PROGRAM, ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM , OR OTHER 10
1456	1456	BEVERAGE CONTAINER REDEMPTION AND PROCESSING METHOD SORTED BY 11
1457	1457	MATERIAL TYPE , REFUND VALUE , AND WHETHER THE EMPTY REDEEMABLE 12
1458	1458	BEVERAGE CONTAINER C AN BE REFILLED OR RE USED; 13
1459	1459
1460	1460	(7) THE REDEMPTION RATE A ND RECYCLI NG RATE FOR 14
1461	1461	NONREFILLABLE REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS SOLD IN THE STATE 15
1462	1462	SORTED BY MATERIAL T YPE, NUMBER OF CONTAINERS SOLD, AND CONTAINER 16
1463	1463	WEIGHT; 17
1464	1464
1465	1465	(8) THE AMOUNT OF EACH TY PE OF: 18
1466	1466
1467	1467	(I) REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER MATERIAL 19
1468	1468	COLLECTED IN THE STATE; AND 20
1469	1469
1470	1470	(II) SCRAP MATERIAL SOLD B Y A BEVERAGE CONTAINER 21
1471	1471	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION; 22
1472	1472
1473	1473	(9) THE LOCATION OF EACH REDEMPTION FACILITY IN THE STATE 23
1474	1474	AND THE REDEMPTION METHOD USED AT EACH REDEMPT ION FACILITY; 24
1475	1475
1476	1476	(10) A DESCRIPTION OF ANY I MPROVEMENTS MADE TO MAKE 25
1477	1477	RETURNING EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS EASIER AN D MORE 26
1478	1478	CONVENIENT ; 27
1479	1479
1480	1480	(11) THE IDENTIFICATION AN D DESCRIPTION OF ARE AS THAT DO NOT 28
1481	1481	HAVE READILY AVAILAB LE OPTIONS FOR REDEE MING AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE 29
1482	1482	BEVERAGE CONTAINER A ND ACTIONS THE BEVER AGE CONTAI NER STEWARDSHIP 30
1483	1483	ORGANIZATION WILL TA KE TO IMPROVE OPTION S IN THESE AREAS; 31
1484	1484	34 HOUSE BILL 735
1485	1485
1486	1486
1487	1487	(12) THE NUMBER OF CONSUME R COMPLAINTS PER MON TH, SORTED 1
1488	1488	BY REDEMPTION FACILI TY; 2
1489	1489
1490	1490	(13) THE NUMBER OF INDIVID UALS AND ORGANIZATIO NS WITH 3
1491	1491	ACCOUNTS ESTABLISHED FOR THE RECEIPT OF E LECTRONIC DEPOSITS O R 4
1492	1492	REFUNDS; 5
1493	1493
1494	1494	(14) THE TOTAL COST OF IMP LEMENTING THE BEVERA GE CONTAINER 6
1495	1495	STEWARDSHIP PLAN , AS DETERMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIA L AUDITOR 7
1496	1496	UNDER § 9–1742(A)(5) OF THIS SUBTITLE; 8
1497	1497
1498	1498	(15) THE AVERAGE COST OF P ROCESSING A N EMPTY REDEEMED 9
1499	1499	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER; 10
1500	1500
1501	1501	(16) A COPY OF THE AUDIT CO NDUCTED UNDER § 9–1742(A)(5) OF 11
1502	1502	THIS SUBTITLE; 12
1503	1503
1504	1504	(17) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DETAILING ALL DEPOSI TS RECEIVED 13
1505	1505	AND REFUNDS ISSUED B Y EACH PRODUCER COVE RED UNDER THE BEVERA GE 14
1506	1506	CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN ; 15
1507	1507
1508	1508	(18) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF D EPOSITS INITIATED , REFUNDS ISSUED , 16
1509	1509	AND UNCLAIMED DEPOSI TS COLLECTED UNDER T HE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R 17
1510	1510	STEWARDSHIP PLAN ; 18
1511	1511
1512	1512	(19) AN ACCOUNTING OF ALL ACTIVITIES AND INVES TMENTS 19
1513	1513	FINANCED BY UNCLAIME D DEPOSITS; 20
1514	1514
1515	1515	(20) EXPENDITURES AND REVE NUES SORTED BY SOURC E, INCLUDING 21
1516	1516	FEES PAID UNDER § 9–1742(A)(4) OF THIS SUBTITLE , REVENUE FROM THE SAL E OF 22
1517	1517	SCRAP MATERIALS , AND UNCLAIMED DEPOSI TS; 23
1518	1518
1519	1519	(21) SAMPLES OF ALL EDUCAT IONAL MATERIALS PROV IDED TO 24
1520	1520	CONSUMERS , RETAILERS, AND OTHER ENTITIES; 25
1521	1521
1522	1522	(22) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENTS MADE IN NEW 26
1523	1523	REDEMPTION FACILITIE S AND REDEMPTION METHODS; 27
1524	1524
1525	1525	(23) THE LOCATION OF NEW R EDEMPTION FACILITIES AND 28
1526	1526	REDEMPTION METHODS; 29
1527	1527
1528	1528	(24) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CHANGES MADE BY P RODUCERS TO 30
1529	1529	INCREASE THE RECYCLAB ILITY OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 31 HOUSE BILL 735 35
1530	1530
1531	1531
1532	1532
1533	1533	(25) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ANY INCIDENTS OF FRAUD AND 1
1534	1534	EFFORTS TAKEN TO PRE VENT FRAUD; AND 2
1535	1535
1536	1536	(26) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 3
1537	1537
1538	1538	(D) THE FINANCIAL , PRODUCTION , AND SALES DATA OF INDIVIDUA L 4
1539	1539	PRODUCERS REPORTED T O THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE 5
1540	1540	KEPT CONFIDENTIAL BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. 6
1541	1541
1542	1542	(E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST THE REPORT SUBMITTED UNDER THIS 7
1543	1543	SECTION ON THE DEPARTMENT ’S WEBSITE IN A MANNE R THAT PROTECTS THE 8
1544	1544	CONFIDENTIALITY OF T HE DATA SPECIFIED UN DER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS 9
1545	1545	SECTION. 10
1546	1546
1547	1547	9–1744. 11
1548	1548
1549	1549	(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A PROCESS FOR A COUNTY OR 12
1550	1550	MUNICIPAL CORPORATIO N TO CREATE A REDEMP TION FACILITY. 13
1551	1551
1552	1552	(B) EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS REDEEMED AT A 14
1553	1553	REDEMPTION FACILITY MANAGED BY A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORA TION 15
1554	1554	SHALL BE CREDITED TO WARD MEETING THE REC YCLING RATES REQUIRE D UNDER § 16
1555	1555	9–505 OF THIS TITLE. 17
1556	1556
1557	1557	(C) (1) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2029, A PORTION OF PROGRAM 18
1558	1558	REVENUES SHALL BE US ED TO COMPENSATE A C OUNTY OR MUNICIPAL 19
1559	1559	CORPORATION FOR ANY NET LOSS OF REVENUE TO THE COUNTY ’S OR MUNICIPAL 20
1560	1560	CORPORATION ’S WASTE MANAGEMENT S YSTEM THAT CAN BE DOCUMENT ED AND 21
1561	1561	ATTRIBUTED TO THE PROGRAM. 22
1562	1562
1563	1563	(2) IN DETERMINING A NET LOSS OF REVENUE , A COUNTY OR 23
1564	1564	MUNICIPAL CORPORATIO N SHALL CONSIDER : 24
1565	1565
1566	1566	(I) THE LOSS OF REVENUE F ROM THE SALE OF SCRA P 25
1567	1567	MATERIALS; 26
1568	1568
1569	1569	(II) FINANCIAL SAVINGS FRO M A REDUCTION I N: 27
1570	1570
1571	1571	1. GLASS BOTTLES IN THE RECYCLING STREAM ; 28
1572	1572
1573	1573	2. TRANSPORTATION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH 29
1574	1574	CURBSIDE COLLECTION OF TRASH AND RECYCLI NG; 30 36 HOUSE BILL 735
1575	1575
1576	1576
1577	1577
1578	1578	3. PROCESSING COSTS ASSO CIATED WITH RECYCLIN G 1
1579	1579	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 2
1580	1580
1581	1581	4. THE COSTS OF LANDFILL ING AND INCINERA TING 3
1582	1582	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT ARE NOT RECYCLE D; AND 4
1583	1583
1584	1584	5. THE COSTS OF LITTER C OLLECTION; AND 5
1585	1585
1586	1586	(III) FOR A COUNTY OR MUNIC IPAL CORPORATION THA T HAS A 6
1587	1587	TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD FOR TRASH IN A WATERWAY UNDER ITS 7
1588	1588	JURISDICTION, THE REDUCED COSTS AN D INCREASED BENEFITS OF COMP LYING 8
1589	1589	WITH THE TOTAL MAXIM UM DAILY LOAD DUE TO A REDUCTION IN BEVER AGE 9
1590	1590	CONTAINER LITTER . 10
1591	1591
1592	1592	9–1745. 11
1593	1593
1594	1594	FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL : 12
1595	1595
1596	1596	(1) INCLUDE: 13
1597	1597
1598	1598	(I) REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER S TEWARDSH IP 14
1599	1599	ORGANIZATION FEES CO LLECTED UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 15
1600	1600
1601	1601	(II) REVENUE FROM THE SALE OF RAW MATERIALS ; 16
1602	1602
1603	1603	(III) UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS CO LLECTED UNDER § 9–1739 OF 17
1604	1604	THIS SUBTITLE; 18
1605	1605
1606	1606	(IV) REGISTRATION FEES COL LECTED UNDER § 9–1740 OF THIS 19
1607	1607	SUBTITLE; AND 20
1608	1608
1609	1609	(V) PENALTIES COLLECTED U NDER § 9–1750 OF THIS 21
1610	1610	SUBTITLE; AND 22
1611	1611
1612	1612	(2) BE USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH §§ 9–1707(F), 9–1739, 9–1740, 23
1613	1613	AND 9–1750 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 24
1614	1614
1615	1615	9–1746. 25
1616	1616
1617	1617	(A) THERE IS A BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND GRANT 26
1618	1618	PROGRAM. 27
1619	1619	HOUSE BILL 735 37
1620	1620
1621	1621
1622	1622	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR 1
1623	1623	PROJECTS THAT : 2
1624	1624
1625	1625	(1) INCREASE THE REUSE AN D RECYCLING OF BEVER AGE 3
1626	1626	CONTAINERS IN THE STATE; 4
1627	1627
1628	1628	(2) INCREASE THE AVAILABI LITY OF PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS AND 5
1629	1629	REFILL STATIONS IN T HE STATE; AND 6
1630	1630
1631	1631	(3) REDUCE THE VOLUME OF LITTER FROM BEVERAGE CONTAINERS 7
1632	1632	IN THE STATE. 8
1633	1633
1634	1634	(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE GRANT PROGRAM. 9
1635	1635
1636	1636	(D) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE GRANT 10
1637	1637	PROGRAM SHALL BE FUND ED FROM A PORTION OF THE UNCLAIMED DEPOSI TS 11
1638	1638	TRANSFERRED TO THE S EPARATE ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9–1707(F)(7) OF 12
1639	1639	THIS SUBTITLE. 13
1640	1640
1641	1641	(2) THE GRANT PROGRAM MAY AWARD UP TO $5,000,000 IN GRANTS 14
1642	1642	EACH YEAR FROM THE U NCLAIMED DEPOSITS TR ANSFERRED TO THE SEP ARATE 15
1643	1643	ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9–1707(F)(7) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 16
1644	1644
1645	1645	(E) THE FOLLOWI NG ENTITIES ARE ELIG IBLE FOR A GRANT UND ER THE 17
1646	1646	GRANT PROGRAM: 18
1647	1647
1648	1648	(1) A SCHOOL OR AN INSTITU TION OF HIGHER EDUCA TION; 19
1649	1649
1650	1650	(2) A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON; 20
1651	1651
1652	1652	(3) A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ; 21
1653	1653
1654	1654	(4) A FOR–PROFIT ORGANIZATION ; AND 22
1655	1655
1656	1656	(5) A PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP. 23
1657	1657
1658	1658	(F) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL, 24
1659	1659	SHALL ADOPT REGULATI ONS ESTABLISHING : 25
1660	1660
1661	1661	(1) AN APPLICATION PROCES S FOR AN ENTITY TO A PPLY FOR A 26
1662	1662	GRANT; 27
1663	1663
1664	1664	(2) THE CRITERIA FOR EVAL UATING AND AWARDING GRANTS; 28 38 HOUSE BILL 735
1665	1665
1666	1666
1667	1667
1668	1668	(3) REPORTING AND EVALUATION REQUIREME NTS FOR A GRANT 1
1669	1669	AWARDED UNDER THIS S ECTION; AND 2
1670	1670
1671	1671	(4) ANY OTHER REQUIREMENT S THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES 3
1672	1672	ARE NECESSARY FOR AD MINISTERING AND IMPL EMENTING GRANTS AWAR DED 4
1673	1673	UNDER THE GRANT PROGRAM. 5
1674	1674
1675	1675	(G) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BEGI N AWARDING GRANTS ON OR BEFORE 6
1676	1676	JANUARY 1, 2028. 7
1677	1677
1678	1678	9–1747. 8
1679	1679
1680	1680	IN ADDITION TO THE DU TIES AND REQUIREMENT S SPECIFIED IN THIS PART, 9
1681	1681	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 10
1682	1682
1683	1683	(1) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL: 11
1684	1684
1685	1685	(I) ESTABLISH CONVENIENCE STANDARDS FOR THE CO VERAGE 12
1686	1686	AND AVAILAB ILITY OF REDEMPTION OPTIONS ACROSS THE STATE; AND 13
1687	1687
1688	1688	(II) ENSURE THE CONVENIENC E STANDARDS PROVIDE 14
1689	1689	ACCESSIBLE REDEMPTIO N OPTIONS FOR DIFFER ENTLY ABLED PEOPLE A ND PEOPLE 15
1690	1690	WHO LIVE IN RURAL AR EAS OR LOW–INCOME COMMUNITIES O F COLOR; AND 16
1691	1691
1692	1692	(2) ESTABLISH A SY STEM FOR LARGE ON –PREMISES SELLERS TO 17
1693	1693	VERIFY THE SOURCE OF THE HIGH VOLUMES OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 18
1694	1694	CONTAINERS REDEEMED BY THE ON–PREMISES SELLER . 19
1695	1695
1696	1696	9–1748. 20
1697	1697
1698	1698	(A) THERE IS A REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING 21
1699	1699	REFUND ADVISORY COUNCIL. 22
1700	1700
1701	1701	(B) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL CONSISTS OF T HE FOLLOWING MEMBERS , 23
1702	1702	DESIGNATED BY THE SECRETARY: 24
1703	1703
1704	1704	(1) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG RECYCLING PROCESS ORS; 25
1705	1705
1706	1706	(2) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 26
1707	1707	RESPONSIBLE FOR RECY CLING PROGRAMS ; 27
1708	1708	HOUSE BILL 735 39
1709	1709
1710	1710
1711	1711	(3) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG GLASS MANUFACTURERS OR A 1
1712	1712	GLASS MANUFACTURING TRADE ORGANIZATION ; 2
1713	1713
1714	1714	(4) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG ALUMINUM MANUFACT URERS OR 3
1715	1715	AN ALUMINUM MANUFACT URING TRADE ORGANIZA TION; 4
1716	1716
1717	1717	(5) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG PLASTIC MANUFACTU RERS OR A 5
1718	1718	PLASTIC MANUFACTURIN G TRADE ORGANIZA TION; 6
1719	1719
1720	1720	(6) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG BEVERAGE COMPANIE S; 7
1721	1721
1722	1722	(7) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG PURCHASERS OF REC YCLED 8
1723	1723	CONTENT; 9
1724	1724
1725	1725	(8) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG RETAILERS; 10
1726	1726
1727	1727	(9) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG RESTAURANTS OR OTHER 11
1728	1728	ON–PREMISES SELLERS ; 12
1729	1729
1730	1730	(10) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTING REVERSE VENDING MACHINE 13
1731	1731	BUSINESSES; 14
1732	1732
1733	1733	(11) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG ACCOUNT –BASED BULK 15
1734	1734	PROCESSORS ; 16
1735	1735
1736	1736	(12) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG BUSINESSES INVOLV ED IN REUSE 17
1737	1737	AND REFILL SYSTEMS ; 18
1738	1738
1739	1739	(13) AT LEAST ONE MEMBER R EPRESENTING AN ENVIR ONMENTAL 19
1740	1740	ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION ; 20
1741	1741
1742	1742	(14) AT LEAST ONE MEMBER R EPRESENTING AN ENVIR ONMENTAL 21
1743	1743	JUSTICE ADVOCACY ORG ANIZATION; AND 22
1744	1744
1745	1745	(15) AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF T HE GENERAL 23
1746	1746	PUBLIC AND RESIDE IN THE STATE. 24
1747	1747
1748	1748	(C) THE SECRETARY SHALL DESIG NATE TWO COCHAIRS FR OM AMONG THE 25
1749	1749	MEMBERSHIP OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. 26
1750	1750
1751	1751	(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF FOR THE ADVISORY 27
1752	1752	COUNCIL. 28
1753	1753	40 HOUSE BILL 735
1754	1754
1755	1755
1756	1756	(E) A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL: 1
1757	1757
1758	1758	(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPE NSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 2
1759	1759	ADVISORY COUNCIL; BUT 3
1760	1760
1761	1761	(2) IS ENTITLED TO REI MBURSEMENT FOR EXPEN SES UNDER THE 4
1762	1762	STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 5
1763	1763
1764	1764	(F) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL MEET : 6
1765	1765
1766	1766	(1) AT LEAST QUARTERLY EA CH YEAR; AND 7
1767	1767
1768	1768	(2) AS REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 8
1769	1769
1770	1770	(G) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL: 9
1771	1771
1772	1772	(1) ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON DETERMI NING WHETHER TO 10
1773	1773	APPROVE A BEVERAGE C ONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN; 11
1774	1774
1775	1775	(2) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT ON THE 12
1776	1776	IMPLEMENTATION OF AP PROVED BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP PL ANS; 13
1777	1777
1778	1778	(3) REVIEW AND ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON THE ANNUAL 14
1779	1779	REPORTS SUBMITTED UN DER § 9–1743 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 15
1780	1780
1781	1781	(4) ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON THE IMP LEMENTATION , 16
1782	1782	ADMINISTRATION , AND PERFORMANCE OF T HE PROGRAM. 17
1783	1783
1784	1784	9–1749. 18
1785	1785
1786	1786	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1, 2025, 19
1787	1787	TO CARRY OUT THIS PART . 20
1788	1788
1789	1789	9–1750. 21
1790	1790
1791	1791	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (C) AND (D) OF THIS SECTION , 22
1792	1792	THE PROVISIONS OF §§ 9–334 THROUGH 9–344 OF THIS TITLE APPLY TO ENFORCE 23
1793	1793	VIOLATIONS OF THIS P ART. 24
1794	1794
1795	1795	(B) A PENALTY MAY NOT BE I MPOSED ON A PRODUCER FOR FAILING TO 25
1796	1796	PROPERLY REGISTER WI TH THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1740 OF THIS SUBTITLE , 26
1797	1797	INCLUDING FAILING TO IDENTIFY EACH BRAND OF REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 27 HOUSE BILL 735 41
1798	1798
1799	1799
1800	1800	CONTAINER THAT THE P RODUCER INTENDS TO S ELL, OFFER FOR SALE , OR 1
1801	1801	DISTRIBUTE IN THE STATE, UNLESS: 2
1802	1802
1803	1803	(1) THE DEPARTME NT FIRST ISSUES A WR ITTEN NOTICE OF THE 3
1804	1804	VIOLATION TO THE PRO DUCER; AND 4
1805	1805
1806	1806	(2) THE PRODUCER DOES NOT REGISTER WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER 5
1807	1807	RECEIVING THE WRITTE N NOTICE. 6
1808	1808
1809	1809	(C) (1) A PERSON MAY NOT REDEE M, ATTEMPT TO REDEEM , RECEIVE, 7
1810	1810	STORE, TRANSPORT, DISTRIBUTE, OR OTHERWISE FACILITATE OR AID IN THE 8
1811	1811	REDEMPTION OF THE FO LLOWING MATERIALS WI TH AN INTENT TO DEFR AUD: 9
1812	1812
1813	1813	(I) AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER THAT WAS 10
1814	1814	SOLD IN ANOTHER STAT E; 11
1815	1815
1816	1816	(II) AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER THAT WAS 12
1817	1817	REJECTED FOR REDEMPT ION; 13
1818	1818
1819	1819	(III) LINE BREAKAGE ; 14
1820	1820
1821	1821	(IV) A PREVIOUSLY REDEEMED REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 15
1822	1822	CONTAINER; OR 16
1823	1823
1824	1824	(V) ANOTHER INELIGIBLE MA TERIAL. 17
1825	1825
1826	1826	(2) A PERSON MAY NOT DISPO SE OF A REDEEMED RED EEMABLE 18
1827	1827	BEVERAGE CONTAINER I N A LANDFILL OR AN I NCINERATOR . 19
1828	1828
1829	1829	(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH ADMINISTRATIVE 20
1830	1830	PENALTIES FOR A VIOL ATION OF THIS SUBSEC TION THAT ARE BASED ON THE 21
1831	1831	NUMBER OF BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS AND REFUND AMOUNTS INVOLVED . 22
1832	1832
1833	1833	(D) (1) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2030, A PRODUCER OR BEVERA GE 23
1834	1834	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANI ZATION THAT HAS NOT REACHED THE 24
1835	1835	REDEMPTION RATES EST ABLISHED IN § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE FOR THE 25
1836	1836	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G 2 YEARS IS SUBJECT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE PE NALTY. 26
1837	1837
1838	1838	(2) EACH YEAR THAT A PROD UCER OR BEVERAGE CON TAINER 27
1839	1839	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION DOES NO T MEET THE REDEMPTIO N RATES 28
1840	1840	ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE IS A SEPARATE VIOLATION UNDER THIS 29
1841	1841	SUBSECTION. 30
1842	1842	42 HOUSE BILL 735
1843	1843
1844	1844
1845	1845	(3) AN ADMINISTRATIVE PEN ALTY ASSESSED UNDER THIS 1
1846	1846	SUBSECTION SHALL EQU AL THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 2
1847	1847	CONTAINERS NEEDED TO BE REDEEMED TO MEET THE REDEMPTION RATES 3
1848	1848	ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE, MINUS THE NUMBER OF REDEEMABLE 4
1849	1849	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ACTUALLY REDEEMED , MULTIPLIED BY 10 CENTS. 5
1850	1850
1851	1851	(E) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ALTER THE ADMINISTRATIVE P ENALTIES 6
1852	1852	ASSESSED UNDER SUBSE CTIONS (C) AND (D) OF THIS SECTION AS N ECESSARY TO 7
1853	1853	ENSURE THAT THE PENA LTY AMOUNTS ASSESSED EXCEED THE COSTS OF 8
1854	1854	COMPLYING WITH THIS PART. 9
1855	1855
1856	1856	(F) PENALTIES COLLECTED U NDER THIS SECTION SH ALL BE: 10
1857	1857
1858	1858	(1) TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE RECYCLING TRUST FUND UNDER § 11
1859	1859	9–1707(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 12
1860	1860
1861	1861	(2) USED ONLY TO COVER TH E DEPARTMENT ’S COSTS OF PLANNING, 13
1862	1862	IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND EVALUATING 14
1863	1863	THE PROGRAM. 15
1864	1864
1865	1865	9–1751. 16
1866	1866
1867	1867	A PRODUCER OR BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION 17
1868	1868	PARTICIPATING IN A BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN IN ACCORDANCE 18
1869	1869	WITH THIS SUBTITLE I S IMMUNE FROM LIABILITY UNDER STATE LAWS CONCERNING 19
1870	1870	ANTITRUST AND RESTRA INT OF TRADE FOR COO PERATIVE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATED 20
1871	1871	WITH THE COLLECTION , TRANSPORT, PROCESSING, RECYCLING, REUSE, AND 21
1872	1872	MANAGEMENT OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS. 22
1873	1873
1874	1874	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 23
1875	1875	1, 2024. 24
1876	1876