Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB56 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	sb0056
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 56
8	8	M3, M4 4lr1173
9	9	(PRE–FILED) CF HB 163
10	10	By: Senator Hester
11	11	Requested: October 26, 2023
12	12	Introduced and read first time: January 10, 2024
13	13	Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
14	14
15	15	A BILL ENTITLED
16	16
17	17	AN ACT concerning 1
18	18
19	19	Food Waste and Solid Waste Reduction – Grants, Fund, and Surcharge 2
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of establishing the On–Farm Organic Diversion and Composting Grant 3
22	22	Program to award grants to eligible entities to assist with the costs of developing and 4
23	23	implementing on–farm composting and compost use, food waste prevention, and food 5
24	24	rescue projects; requiring the Department of the Environment to use funds from the 6
25	25	Reduce, Recycle, Remanufacture Fund to support the Grant Program to Reduce and 7
26	26	Compost School Waste; authorizing the Department to establish a statewide solid 8
27	27	waste disposal surcharge to be collected by certain owners and operators of refuse 9
28	28	disposal systems in the State; authorizing a county to submit a request to the 10
29	29	Department to establish a certain local solid waste disposal surcharge program; 11
30	30	establishing the Reduce, Recycle, Remanufacture Fund as a special, nonlapsing 12
31	31	fund; requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; establishing 13
32	32	the Food Waste Reduction and Diversion Grants Program to award grants for 14
33	33	infrastructure, programming, and education focused on reducing, rescuing, and 15
34	34	diverting food waste in the State; establishing the Circular Economy Incentive 16
35	35	Program to award grants or other incentives to develop methods for upcycling and 17
36	36	remanufacturing materials in the State that would otherwise be disposed of; and 18
37	37	generally relating to reducing food waste and solid waste in the State. 19
38	38
39	39	BY adding to 20
40	40	Article – Agriculture 21
41	41	Section 2–2301 and 2–2302 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 23. On–Farm 22
42	42	Organic Diversion and Composting Grant Program” 23
43	43	Annotated Code of Maryland 24
44	44	(2016 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 25
45	45
46	46	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 26
47	47	Article – Environment 27
48	48	Section 9–201(a) and (e) and 9–1701(a), (d), and (q) 28 2 SENATE BILL 56
49	49
50	50
51	51	Annotated Code of Maryland 1
52	52	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 2
53	53
54	54	BY adding to 3
55	55	Article – Environment 4
56	56	Section 9–17A–01 through 9–17A–07 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 17A. 5
57	57	Waste Reduction” 6
58	58	Annotated Code of Maryland 7
59	59	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 8
60	60
61	61	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
62	62	Article – State Finance and Procurement 10
63	63	Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) 11
64	64	Annotated Code of Maryland 12
65	65	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
66	66
67	67	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
68	68	Article – State Finance and Procurement 15
69	69	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)189. and 190. 16
70	70	Annotated Code of Maryland 17
71	71	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
72	72
73	73	BY adding to 19
74	74	Article – State Finance and Procurement 20
75	75	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)191. 21
76	76	Annotated Code of Maryland 22
77	77	(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 23
78	78
79	79	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 24
80	80	Article – Education 25
81	81	Section 7–130(a), (b), and (c)(1) 26
82	82	Annotated Code of Maryland 27
83	83	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 28
84	84
85	85	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 29
86	86	Article – Education 30
87	87	Section 7–130(h) 31
88	88	Annotated Code of Maryland 32
89	89	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 33
90	90
91	91	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 34
92	92	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 35
93	93
94	94	Article – Agriculture 36
95	95
96	96	SUBTITLE 23. ON–FARM ORGANIC DIVERSION AND COMPOSTING GRANT 37
97	97	PROGRAM. 38 SENATE BILL 56 3
98	98
99	99
100	100
101	101	2–2301. 1
102	102
103	103	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 2
104	104	INDICATED. 3
105	105
106	106	(B) “ELIGIBLE ENTITY” MEANS: 4
107	107
108	108	(1) A FARMER, INCLUDING AN URBAN F ARMER; 5
109	109
110	110	(2) A SOIL CONSERVATION DI STRICT; 6
111	111
112	112	(3) AN INSTITUTION OF HIG HER EDUCATION ; AND 7
113	113
114	114	(4) A CONSORTIUM OF ANY OF THE ENTITIES IDENTIF IED IN ITEMS (1) 8
115	115	THROUGH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 9
116	116
117	117	(C) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE ON–FARM ORGANIC DIVERSION AND 10
118	118	COMPOSTING GRANT PROGRAM. 11
119	119
120	120	(D) “REFUSE DISPOSAL SYSTE M” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–201 OF 12
121	121	THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE. 13
122	122
123	123	2–2302. 14
124	124
125	125	(A) THERE IS AN ON–FARM ORGANIC DIVERSION AND COMPOSTING 15
126	126	GRANT PROGRAM. 16
127	127
128	128	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO AWARD G RANTS TO ELIGIBLE 17
129	129	ENTITIES TO ASSIST W ITH THE COSTS OF DEV ELOPING AND IMPLEMEN TING 18
130	130	ON–FARM COMPOSTING AND COMPOST USE , FOOD WASTE PREVENTIO N, AND FOOD 19
131	131	RESCUE PROJECTS . 20
132	132
133	133	(C) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 21
134	134	ENVIRONMENT , SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. 22
135	135
136	136	(D) THE PROGRAM MAY AWARD GRA NTS TO ELIGIBLE ENTI TIES ONLY TO 23
137	137	ASSIST WITH THE COST S OF DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING ON –FARM 24
138	138	COMPOSTING , COMPOST USE , FOOD WASTE PREVENTIO N, AND FOOD RESCUE 25
139	139	PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE COSTS OF: 26
140	140	4 SENATE BILL 56
141	141
142	142
143	143	(1) PRESERVING AND RESCUI NG FOOD FOR CONSUMPT ION BY 1
144	144	INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING FACILITATI NG OR PARTICIPATING IN RELEVANT 2
145	145	PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS ; 3
146	146
147	147	(2) COLD STORAGE FOR THE PRESERVATION OF FOOD THAT WILL BE 4
148	148	CONSUMED BY INDIVIDU ALS; 5
149	149
150	150	(3) EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON: 6
151	151
152	152	(I) SEPARATING FOOD WASTE FROM OTHER WASTE ; AND 7
153	153
154	154	(II) OPTIONS FOR ON–FARM COMPOSTING ; 8
155	155
156	156	(4) EQUIPMENT AND INFRAST RUCTURE IN SUPPORT O F ON–FARM 9
157	157	COMPOSTING ; 10
158	158
159	159	(5) LABOR AND WAGES IN SU PPORT OF ON–FARM COMPOSTING , 11
160	160	COMPOST USE , FOOD WASTE PREVENTIO N, AND FOOD RESCUE ; 12
161	161
162	162	(6) COMPOST MANAGEMENT TR AINING UNDER A PROGR AM OFFERED 13
163	163	BY THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EXTENSION, THE U.S. COMPOSTING COUNCIL, 14
164	164	OR ANY OTHER APPROPR IATE ENTITY; 15
165	165
166	166	(7) (I) COMPOST TESTING EQUIPME NT; OR 16
167	167
168	168	(II) SUBMITTING COMPOST SA MPLES FOR TESTING TO A 17
169	169	LABORATORY WITH APPR OPRIATE EXPERTISE ; 18
170	170
171	171	(8) STUDYING IMPACTS OF C OMPOST APPLICATION O N ON–FARM 19
172	172	NUTRIENT AND WATER Q UALITY MANAGEMENT TO INFORM RELEVANT 20
173	173	REGULATIONS ; AND 21
174	174
175	175	(9) MEETING PERMIT REQUIR EMENTS. 22
176	176
177	177	(E) (1) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT 23
178	178	OF THE ENVIRONMENT , SHALL ESTABLISH GRAN T APPLICATION PROCED URES. 24
179	179
180	180	(2) THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCEDURES SHALL INC LUDE: 25
181	181
182	182	(I) A PROCESS FOR FACILITA TING PART ICIPATION OF 26
183	183	ELIGIBLE ENTITIES WI TH LIMITED RESOURCES ; AND 27
184	184	SENATE BILL 56 5
185	185
186	186
187	187	(II) A SIMPLE COMMON APPLIC ATION AND COMMON 1
188	188	REPORTING FORMAT . 2
189	189
190	190	(F) IN AWARDING GRANTS UN DER THIS SUBTITLE , THE DEPARTMENT AND 3
191	191	THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT SHALL GIV E PRIORITY TO PROJEC TS: 4
192	192
193	193	(1) FOR WHICH AN APPLICAN T CLEARLY DESCRIBES HOW THE 5
194	194	PROJECT WILL: 6
195	195
196	196	(I) PROVIDE DIRECT , MEANINGFUL , AND ASSURED BENEFITS 7
197	197	TO THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE PROJECT IS LOCATED; AND 8
198	198
199	199	(II) ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY IN WHI CH THE 9
200	200	PROJECT IS LOCATE D; 10
201	201
202	202	(2) THAT PREVENT , RESCUE, AND DIVERT FOOD WAST E FROM 11
203	203	REFUSE DISPOSAL SYST EMS TO INSTEAD BE US ED IN THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THE 12
204	204	PROJECT IS LOCATED , INCLUDING COMPOSTING THE FOOD WASTE FOR U SE IN THE 13
205	205	STATE; 14
206	206
207	207	(3) FOR WHICH AN APPLICAN T DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE OF BEST 15
208	208	PRACTICES IN THE APP LICABLE FIELD AND HO W TO INCORPORATE THO SE BEST 16
209	209	PRACTICES IN THE PRO JECT; 17
210	210
211	211	(4) THAT SERVE A FARM OWN ED OR OPERATED BY A FARMER WHO IS 18
212	212	A LOW–INCOME INDIVIDUAL , A SOCIALLY DISADVANT AGED INDIVIDUAL , A WOMAN, 19
213	213	OR A VETERA N; 20
214	214
215	215	(5) THAT SERVE A LOW –INCOME OR SOCIALLY D ISADVANTAGED 21
216	216	COMMUNITY ; OR 22
217	217
218	218	(6) THAT ENGAGE SMALL OR BEGINNING FARMING OP ERATIONS. 23
219	219
220	220	Article – Environment 24
221	221
222	222	9–201. 25
223	223
224	224	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 26
225	225
226	226	(e) “Refuse disposal system” includes: 27
227	227
228	228	(1) An incinerator; 28
229	229
230	230	(2) A transfer station; 29 6 SENATE BILL 56
231	231
232	232
233	233
234	234	(3) A landfill system; 1
235	235
236	236	(4) A landfill; 2
237	237
238	238	(5) A solid waste processing facility; and 3
239	239
240	240	(6) Any other solid waste acceptance facility. 4
241	241
242	242	9–1701. 5
243	243
244	244	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 6
245	245
246	246	(d) “Composting” means the controlled aerobic biological decomposition of organic 7
247	247	waste material in accordance with the standards established by the Secretary under this 8
248	248	title. 9
249	249
250	250	(q) “Recycling” means any process in which recyclable materials are collected, 10
251	251	separated, or processed and returned to the marketplace in the form of raw materials or 11
252	252	products. 12
253	253
254	254	SUBTITLE 17A. WASTE REDUCTION. 13
255	255
256	256	9–17A–01. 14
257	257
258	258	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 15
259	259	INDICATED. 16
260	260
261	261	(B) “COMPOSTING” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–1701 OF THIS TITLE. 17
262	262
263	263	(C) “FUND” MEANS THE REDUCE, RECYCLE, REMANUFACTURE FUND. 18
264	264
265	265	(D) “HAULER” MEANS A PERSON THAT IS CONTRACTED TO COL LECT OR 19
266	266	HAUL SOLID WASTE . 20
267	267
268	268	(E) “RECYCLING” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–1701 OF THIS TITLE. 21
269	269
270	270	(F) “REFUSE DISPOSAL SYSTE M” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 9–201 OF 22
271	271	THIS TITLE. 23
272	272
273	273	9–17A–02. 24
274	274
275	275	(A) (1) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ESTABL ISH A STATEWIDE SOLI D WASTE 25
276	276	DISPOSAL SURCHARGE O N THE FINAL DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE IN TH E STATE. 26
277	277	SENATE BILL 56 7
278	278
279	279
280	280	(2) (I) THIS PARAGRAPH DOES N OT APPLY TO AN OWNER OR 1
281	281	OPERATOR OF A REFUSE DISPOSAL SYSTEM LOCA TED IN A COUNTY THAT HAS 2
282	282	IMPLEMENTED A LOCAL SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SURCHARGE PROGRAM IN 3
283	283	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–17A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 4
284	284
285	285	(II) IF A STATEWIDE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SURCH ARGE IS 5
286	286	ESTABLISHED UNDER TH IS SECTION, EACH OWNER OR OPERAT OR OF A REFUSE 6
287	287	DISPOSAL SYSTEM IN T HE STATE SHALL: 7
288	288
289	289	1. COLLECT THE SURCHARGE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 8
290	290	THIS SECTION; AND 9
291	291
292	292	2. INCLUDE THE SURCHARGE AMOUNT DUE AS A 10
293	293	SEPARATE LIN E ITEM ON THE BILL O R INVOICE THAT THE O WNER OR OPERATOR 11
294	294	PROVIDES TO A HAULER OR OTHER PERSON DISP OSING OF WASTE AT TH E REFUSE 12
295	295	DISPOSAL SYSTEM . 13
296	296
297	297	(3) A HAULER THAT PAYS A S TATEWIDE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL 14
298	298	SURCHARGE TO AN OWNE R OR OPERATOR OF A R EFUSE DISPOS AL SYSTEM IN 15
299	299	ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION MAY COLLECT A RATE, FEE, OR SURCHARGE 16
300	300	FROM A CUSTOMER ONLY IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICI ENT FOR THE HAULER T O RECOVER 17
301	301	THE AMOUNT OF THE SU RCHARGE PAID BY THE HAULER. 18
302	302
303	303	(B) IF A STATEWIDE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SURCH ARGE IS ESTABLISHED 19
304	304	UNDER THIS SECTION , THE SURCHARGE SHALL : 20
305	305
306	306	(1) BE $2 PER TON OF SOLID WAS TE PROCESSED BY A RE FUSE 21
307	307	DISPOSAL SYSTEM ; AND 22
308	308
309	309	(2) EVERY 2 YEARS AFTER ESTABLIS HMENT, BE: 23
310	310
311	311	(I) ADJUSTED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDA NCE WITH 24
312	312	THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR THE MID–ATLANTIC DIVISION; AND 25
313	313
314	314	(II) EVALUATED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMI NE 26
315	315	WHETHER INCREASES TO THE SURCHARGE ARE RE COMMENDED . 27
316	316
317	317	(C) IF A SURCHARGE HAS BE EN COLLECTED BY AN O WNER OR OPERATOR 28
318	318	OF A TRANSFER STATIO N, THE STATEWIDE SOLID W ASTE DISPOSAL SURCHARGE MAY 29
319	319	NOT BE COLLECTED BY AN OWNER OR OPERATOR OF A REFUSE DISPOSAL SYSTEM 30
320	320	THAT RECEIVES THE SO LID WASTE FOR FINAL DISPOSAL. 31
321	321	8 SENATE BILL 56
322	322
323	323
324	324	(D) (1) IF A STATEWIDE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SURCH ARGE IS 1
325	325	ESTABLISHED UNDER TH IS SECTION, THE COMPTROLLER SHALL COL LECT THE 2
326	326	SURCHARGE REVENUE AS SESSED UNDER THIS SE CTION AND DEPOSIT TH E REVENUE 3
327	327	INTO THE REDUCE, RECYCLE, REMANUFACTURE FUND ESTABLISHED UNDE R § 4
328	328	9–17A–04 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5
329	329
330	330	(2) (I) IF A STATEWIDE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SURCH ARGE IS 6
331	331	ESTABLISHED UNDER TH IS SECTION, 6 MONTHS AFTER THE SUR CHARGE IS 7
332	332	ESTABLISHED AND ON A QUARTERLY BASIS THER EAFTER, AN OWNER OR OPERATOR 8
333	333	OF A REFUSE DISPOSAL SYSTEM SHALL COMPLE TE AND SUBMIT , UNDER OATH , A 9
334	334	RETURN AND REMIT THE SURCHARGE REVENUE TO THE COMPTROLLER . 10
335	335
336	336	(II) A RETURN SUBMITTED UND ER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS 11
337	337	PARAGRAPH SHALL INCL UDE INFORMATION ON T HE NUMBER OF TONS OF SOLID 12
338	338	WASTE ACCEPTED FOR D ISPOSAL, TRANSFER, OR COLLECTION, AS APPROPRIATE , 13
339	339	DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD. 14
340	340
341	341	(E) THE COMPTROLLER MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS 15
342	342	SECTION. 16
343	343
344	344	9–17A–03. 17
345	345
346	346	(A) (1) IF A STATEWIDE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SURCH ARGE IS 18
347	347	ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9–17A–02 OF THIS SUBTITLE , A COUNTY, INCLUDING 19
348	348	BALTIMORE CITY AND MIDSHORE COU NTIES, MAY SUBMIT A REQUEST TO THE 20
349	349	DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLI SH A LOCAL SOLID WAS TE DISPOSAL SURCHARG E 21
350	350	PROGRAM. 22
351	351
352	352	(2) THE DEPARTMENT MAY APPROV E A REQUEST SUBMITTE D UNDER 23
353	353	PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION I F THE COUNTY ES TABLISHES A LOCAL SO LID 24
354	354	WASTE DISPOSAL SURCH ARGE PROGRAM TO FUND FOOD RESCUE , WASTE 25
355	355	DIVERSION, AND COMPOSTING IN AC CORDANCE WITH THIS S ECTION. 26
356	356
357	357	(B) A LOCAL SOLID WASTE DI SPOSAL SURCHARGE PRO GRAM ESTABLISHED 27
358	358	UNDER THIS SECTION S HALL: 28
359	359
360	360	(1) INCLUDE A SURCH ARGE ASSESSED AT A R ATE THAT IS GREATER 29
361	361	THAN OR EQUAL TO THE SURCHARGE RATE ESTAB LISHED UNDER § 9–17A–02(B) OF 30
362	362	THIS SUBTITLE; AND 31
363	363
364	364	(2) ALLOCATE THE SURCHARG E REVENUE COLLECTED BY THE 32
365	365	COUNTY TO ENTITIES A ND PROJECTS THAT WOU LD BE ELIGIBLE TO AP PLY FOR 33
366	366	GRANT FUNDS UNDER : 34 SENATE BILL 56 9
367	367
368	368
369	369
370	370	(I) THE ON–FARM ORGANIC DIVERSION AND COMPOSTING 1
371	371	GRANT PROGRAM UNDER TITLE 2, SUBTITLE 23 OF THE AGRICULTURE ARTICLE; 2
372	372
373	373	(II) THE GRANT PROGRAM TO REDUCE AND COMPOST SCHOOL 3
374	374	WASTE UNDER § 7–130 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE; 4
375	375
376	376	(III) THE FOOD WASTE REDUCTION AND DIVERSION GRANTS 5
377	377	PROGRAM UNDER § 9–17A–05 OF THIS SUBTITLE; OR 6
378	378
379	379	(IV) THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY INCENTIVE PROGRAM UNDER § 7
380	380	9–17A–06 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8
381	381
382	382	(C) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , A COUNTY 9
383	383	MAY ASSESS A LOCAL S OLID WASTE DISPOSAL SURCHARGE ESTABLISHE D IN 10
384	384	ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION AT THE LEVEL OF WASTE GENERATION , 11
385	385	COLLECTION, OR FINAL DISPOSAL . 12
386	386
387	387	(2) A COUNTY MAY NOT ASSES S A LOCAL SOLID WAST E DISPOSAL 13
388	388	SURCHARGE ON THE SAM E SOLID WASTE MORE T HAN ONCE. 14
389	389
390	390	(D) (1) THE STATEWIDE SOLID W ASTE DISPOSAL SURCHA RGE 15
391	391	AUTHORIZED UNDER § 9–17A–02 OF THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE ASSESSED ON T HE 16
392	392	FINAL DISPOSAL OR TR ANSFER OF WASTE AT A REFUSE DISPOSAL SYST EM LOCATED 17
393	393	IN A COUNTY THAT HAS IMPLEMENTED A LOCAL SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL 18
394	394	SURCHARGE PROGRAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION. 19
395	395
396	396	(2) SOLID WASTE DISPOSED OF AT REFUSE DISPOSA L SYSTEMS IN A 20
397	397	COUNTY THAT HAS IMPL EMENTED A LOCAL SOLI D WASTE DISPOSAL SUR CHARGE 21
398	398	PROGRAM IN ACCORDANC E WITH THIS SECTION IS SUBJECT TO THE LO CAL 22
399	399	SURCHARGE E STABLISHED UNDER THE PROGRAM. 23
400	400
401	401	(E) EACH YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVI EW EACH LOCAL SOLID 24
402	402	WASTE DISPOSAL SURCH ARGE PROGRAM ESTABLI SHED UNDER THIS SECT ION TO: 25
403	403
404	404	(1) ENSURE COMPLIANCE WIT H THE REQUIREMENTS O F THIS 26
405	405	SECTION; AND 27
406	406
407	407	(2) EVALUATE BEST PRACTI CES AND LESSONS LEAR NED FROM 28
408	408	LOCAL SOLID WASTE SU RCHARGE PROGRAMS . 29
409	409
410	410	9–17A–04. 30
411	411	10 SENATE BILL 56
412	412
413	413
414	414	(A) THERE IS A REDUCE, RECYCLE, REMANUFACTURE FUND. 1
415	415
416	416	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PROVIDE FU NDING TO THE 2
417	417	DEPARTMENT , THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE , AND THE STATE 3
418	418	DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO AWARD GRANTS FOR PROJECTS THAT: 4
419	419
420	420	(1) REDUCE FOOD WASTE AND SOLID WASTE; 5
421	421
422	422	(2) PROMOTE COMPOSTING AN D COMPOST USE ; AND 6
423	423
424	424	(3) DEVELOP METHODS FOR U PCYCLING AND REMANUF ACTURING 7
425	425	MATERIALS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE DISPOSE D OF. 8
426	426
427	427	(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE FUND. 9
428	428
429	429	(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 10
430	430	SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 11
431	431
432	432	(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 12
433	433	AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACCOUNT FOR THE FUND. 13
434	434
435	435	(E) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 14
436	436
437	437	(1) STATEWIDE SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SURCHARGE R EVENUE 15
438	438	DEPOSITED INTO THE FUND UNDER § 9–17A–02 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 16
439	439
440	440	(2) FEDERAL OR PRIVATE GR ANT FUNDING OBTAINED BY THE 17
441	441	DEPARTMENT ; 18
442	442
443	443	(3) MONEY APPROPRIA TED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; 19
444	444
445	445	(4) INTEREST EARNINGS ; AND 20
446	446
447	447	(5) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED FOR 21
448	448	THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 22
449	449
450	450	(F) (1) THE FUND MAY BE USED ONLY TO: 23
451	451
452	452	(I) PROVIDE THE FUNDING N ECESSARY TO AWARD GR ANTS 24
453	453	UNDER: 25
454	454
455	455	1. TITLE 2, SUBTITLE 23 OF THE AGRICULTURE 26
456	456	ARTICLE; 27 SENATE BILL 56 11
457	457
458	458
459	459
460	460	2. § 7–130 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE; AND 1
461	461
462	462	3. §§ 9–17A–05 AND 9–17A–06 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 2
463	463
464	464	(II) COVER THE REASONABLE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS OF: 3
465	465
466	466	1. THE DEPARTMENT IN ADMINIS TERING THE FUND; 4
467	467
468	468	2. THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN AWARDI NG 5
469	469	GRANTS UNDER TITLE 2, SUBTITLE 23 OF THE AGRICULTURE ARTICLE; 6
470	470
471	471	3. THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN 7
472	472	AWARDING GRANTS UNDE R § 7–130 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE; AND 8
473	473
474	474	4. THE DEPARTMENT IN AWARDIN G GRANTS UNDER §§ 9
475	475	9–17A–05 AND 9–17A–06 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 10
476	476
477	477	(2) UP TO 10% OF THE ESTIMATED ANN UAL SOLID WASTE 11
478	478	SURCHARGE REVENUE MA Y BE USED TO COVER R EASONABLE ADMINISTRA TIVE 12
479	479	COSTS UNDER PARAGRAP H (1)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 13
480	480
481	481	(G) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVEST THE MON EY OF THE FUND 14
482	482	IN THE SAME MANNER A S OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. 15
483	483
484	484	(2) INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITE D TO THE 16
485	485	FUND. 17
486	486
487	487	9–17A–05. 18
488	488
489	489	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 19
490	490	INDICATED. 20
491	491
492	492	(2) (I) “ELIGIBLE ENTITY” MEANS: 21
493	493
494	494	1. A UNIT OF STATE OR LOCAL GOVERN MENT THAT HAS 22
495	495	NOT IMPLEMENTED A LO CAL SOLID WASTE DISP OSAL SURCHARGE PROGR AM UNDER 23
496	496	§ 9–17A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 24
497	497
498	498	2. A LOCAL EDUCATION AGEN CY; 25
499	499
500	500	3. AN INSTITUTION OF HIG HER EDUCATIO N; 26
501	501	12 SENATE BILL 56
502	502
503	503
504	504	4. A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON; 1
505	505
506	506	5. A FARMER, INCLUDING AN URBAN F ARMER; 2
507	507
508	508	6. A BUSINESS THAT IS: 3
509	509
510	510	A. OPERATING IN THE STATE IN GOOD STANDIN G; AND 4
511	511
512	512	B. INTENDED TO OPERATE A T A PROFIT AND RETUR N A 5
513	513	PROFIT TO ITS OWNERS ; AND 6
514	514
515	515	7. A CONSORTIUM OF ANY OF THE ENTITIES IDENTIF IED 7
516	516	IN ITEMS 1 THROUGH 6 OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH . 8
517	517
518	518	(II) “ELIGIBLE ENTITY” DOES NOT INCLUDE A C OUNTY THAT 9
519	519	HAS IMPLEMENTED A LO CAL SOLID WASTE DISP OSAL SURCHARGE PROGR AM IN 10
520	520	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–17A–03 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 11
521	521
522	522	(3) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE FOOD WASTE REDUCTION AND 12
523	523	DIVERSION GRANTS PROGRAM. 13
524	524
525	525	(B) THERE IS A FOOD WASTE REDUCTION AND DIVERSION GRANTS 14
526	526	PROGRAM. 15
527	527
528	528	(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO AWARD G RANTS FOR 16
529	529	INFRASTRUCTURE , PROGRAMMING , AND EDUCATION FOCUSE D ON REDUCING , 17
530	530	RESCUING, AND DIVERTING FOOD W ASTE IN THE STATE. 18
531	531
532	532	(D) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF 19
533	533	AGRICULTURE , SHALL ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM. 20
534	534
535	535	(E) A PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT UNDER TH E PROGRAM IF THE 21
536	536	PROJECT: 22
537	537
538	538	(1) DEVELOPS, MAINTAINS, OR EXPANDS INFRASTRU CTURE OR 23
539	539	PROGRAMS THAT : 24
540	540
541	541	(I) REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF FOOD WASTE GENERATED IN THE 25
542	542	STATE; 26
543	543
544	544	(II) RESCUE EDIBLE FOOD TH AT WOULD OTHERWISE B E 27
545	545	DISPOSED OF; 28
546	546	SENATE BILL 56 13
547	547
548	548
549	549	(III) COMPOST FOOD RESIDUAL S, INCLUDING PROJECTS F OR: 1
550	550
551	551	1. AT–HOME COMPOSTING ; 2
552	552
553	553	2. COMMUNITY COMPOSTING ; AND 3
554	554
555	555	3. ON–FARM COMPOSTING ; OR 4
556	556
557	557	(IV) SUPPORT A TRANSITION FROM THE USE OF SING LE–USE 5
558	558	FOOD SERVICEWARE TO DURABLE, REUSABLE FOOD SERVIC EWARE; 6
559	559
560	560	(2) ENCOURAGES SOURCE SEP ARATION OF UNCONTAMI NATED FOOD 7
561	561	RESIDUALS; 8
562	562
563	563	(3) PROVIDES EDUCATION OR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ADVANCE 9
564	564	FOOD WASTE PREVENTIO N, DIVERSION, AND COMPOSTING ; OR 10
565	565
566	566	(4) COLLECTS AND COMPOSTS SOURCE–SEPARATED COMPOSTABL E 11
567	567	MATERIALS. 12
568	568
569	569	(F) AN ELIGIBLE ENTITY MA Y APPLY FOR A GRANT UNDER THIS SECT ION. 13
570	570
571	571	(G) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH GRANT APPLICAT ION 14
572	572	PROCEDURES . 15
573	573
574	574	(2) THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCEDURES SHALL INC LUDE: 16
575	575
576	576	(I) A PROCESS FOR FACILITA TING THE PARTICIPATI ON OF 17
577	577	ELIGIBLE ENTITIES WI TH LIMITED RESOURCES ; AND 18
578	578
579	579	(II) A SIMPLE COMMO N APPLICATION AND CO MMON 19
580	580	REPORTING FORMAT . 20
581	581
582	582	(H) IN AWARDING GRANTS UN DER THIS SECTION , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 21
583	583	GIVE PRIORITY TO PRO JECTS: 22
584	584
585	585	(1) FOR WHICH AN APPLICAN T CLEARLY DESCRIBES HOW THE 23
586	586	PROJECT WILL PROVIDE DIRECT, MEANINGFUL , AND ASSURED BENEFITS TO THE 24
587	587	COMMUNITY AND ADDRES S IMPORTANT COMMUNIT Y NEEDS; 25
588	588
589	589	(2) THAT PREVENT , RESCUE, AND DIVERT FOOD WAST E WITHIN THE 26
590	590	COMMUNITY IN WHICH T HE PROJECT IS LOCATE D; 27
591	591	14 SENATE BILL 56
592	592
593	593
594	594	(3) THAT SERVE A MARGINAL IZED, LOW–INCOME, OR SOCIALLY 1
595	595	DISADVANTAGED COMMUN ITY; AND 2
596	596
597	597	(4) THAT MINIMIZE NEGATIV E IMPACTS AND MAXIMI ZE BENEFITS TO 3
598	598	THE LOCAL COMMUNITY , INCLUDING JOBS CREAT ED, JOB TRAINING, AND SUPPORT 4
599	599	FOR HIRING AND LEADE RSHIP DEVELOPMENT PR ACTICES THAT ARE INC LUSIVE AND 5
600	600	PROVIDE LIVING WAGES . 6
601	601
602	602	9–17A–06. 7
603	603
604	604	(A) (1) IN THIS SECTIO N THE FOLLOWING WORD S HAVE THE MEANINGS 8
605	605	INDICATED. 9
606	606
607	607	(2) “ELIGIBLE ENTITY” MEANS: 10
608	608
609	609	(I) A COUNTY OR OTHER UNIT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ; 11
610	610
611	611	(II) A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON; AND 12
612	612
613	613	(III) A FOR–PROFIT ORGANIZATION . 13
614	614
615	615	(3) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY INCENTIVE 14
616	616	PROGRAM. 15
617	617
618	618	(4) “STATEWIDE RECYCLING N EEDS ASSESSMENT ” MEANS THE 16
619	619	RECYCLING NEEDS ASSE SSMENT REQUIRED UNDE R CHAPTER 465 OF THE ACTS OF 17
620	620	THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 2023. 18
621	621
622	622	(B) THERE IS A CIRCULAR ECONOMY INCENTIVE PROGRAM. 19
623	623
624	624	(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO AWARD GRA NTS OR OTHER 20
625	625	INCENTIVES TO DEVELO P METHODS FOR UPCYCL ING AND REMANUFACTUR ING 21
626	626	MATERIALS IN THE STATE THAT WOULD OTHE RWISE BE DISPOSED OF . 22
627	627
628	628	(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE PROGRAM. 23
629	629
630	630	(E) A PROJECT IS ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT UNDER THE PROGRAM IF THE 24
631	631	PROJECT: 25
632	632
633	633	(1) ADDRESSES A NEED IDEN TIFIED IN THE STATEW IDE RECYCLING 26
634	634	NEEDS ASSESSMENT ; 27
635	635
636	636	(2) INCREASES THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL RECYCLED IN THE STATE; 28 SENATE BILL 56 15
637	637
638	638
639	639
640	640	(3) FILLS GAPS IN THE INF RASTRUCTURE FOR COLL ECTING, 1
641	641	PROCESSING, RECYCLING, OR REUSING MATERIALS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE 2
642	642	DISPOSED OF; 3
643	643
644	644	(4) PROVIDES EDUCATION RE GARDING RECYCLING ; 4
645	645
646	646	(5) PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIE S TO INCREASE EMPLOY MENT AND 5
647	647	GROW NEW BUSINESSES IN ANY PROFESSION TH AT SUPPORTS AN ELIGI BLE 6
648	648	PROJECT UNDER THIS S UBSECTION; 7
649	649
650	650	(6) ADDRESSES BARRIERS TO INCREASING THE USE O F RECYCLABLE 8
651	651	MATERIALS AS FEEDSTO CK FOR PRINCIPAL PRO CESSORS AND MANUFACT URERS; 9
652	652
653	653	(7) PROVIDES FOR THE LABO R AND WAGES IN SUPPO RT OF 10
654	654	RECYCLING, REUSE, OR REMANUFACTURING O F A PRIORITY MATERIA L; OR 11
655	655
656	656	(8) SUPPORTS MEETING PERMIT REQ UIREMENTS. 12
657	657
658	658	(F) AN ELIGIBLE ENTITY MA Y APPLY FOR A GRANT UNDER THIS SECTION . 13
659	659
660	660	(G) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH GRANT APPLICAT ION 14
661	661	PROCEDURES . 15
662	662
663	663	(2) THE GRANT APPLICATION PROCEDURES SHALL INC LUDE: 16
664	664
665	665	(I) A PROCESS FOR FACILITA TING THE PARTICIPATION OF 17
666	666	ELIGIBLE ENTITIES WI TH LIMITED RESOURCES ; AND 18
667	667
668	668	(II) A SIMPLE COMMON APPLIC ATION AND COMMON 19
669	669	REPORTING FORMAT . 20
670	670
671	671	(H) IN AWARDING GRANTS UN DER THIS SECTION , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 21
672	672
673	673	(1) FOR A PROJECT THAT ME ETS MULTIPLE RECOMMENDATIONS OF 22
674	674	THE STATEWIDE RECYCL ING NEEDS ASSESSMENT : 23
675	675
676	676	(I) RANK THE PROJECT SEPA RATELY FOR THE FOLLO WING 24
677	677	COBENEFITS: 25
678	678
679	679	1. ENVIRONMENTAL ; 26
680	680
681	681	2. ECONOMIC; AND 27 16 SENATE BILL 56
682	682
683	683
684	684
685	685	3. EQUITY; AND 1
686	686
687	687	(II) SCORE THE PROJECT BAS ED ON THE RANKINGS U NDER 2
688	688	ITEM (I) OF THIS ITEM; AND 3
689	689
690	690	(2) BASED ON THE SCORE CA LCULATED UNDER ITEM (1)(II) OF THIS 4
691	691	SUBSECTION, PRIORITIZE PROJECTS THAT SIMULTANEOUSLY MEET MULTIPLE 5
692	692	RECOMMENDATIONS OF T HE STATEWIDE RECYCLI NG NEEDS ASSESSMENT . 6
693	693
694	694	9–17A–07. 7
695	695
696	696	(A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2026, THE 8
697	697	DEPARTMENT , IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND 9
698	698	THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, SHALL REPORT TO THE GENERAL 10
699	699	ASSEMBLY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT ARTICLE, 11
700	700	ON THE IMPLEMENTATIO N OF THE PROGRAMS AND REQ UIREMENTS ESTABLISHE D 12
701	701	UNDER TITLE 2, SUBTITLE 23 OF THE AGRICULTURE ARTICLE, § 7–130 OF THE 13
702	702	EDUCATION ARTICLE, AND THIS SUBTITLE . 14
703	703
704	704	(B) THE REPORT SHALL INCL UDE: 15
705	705
706	706	(1) THE NUMBER AND TYPES OF GRANTS AWARDED ; 16
707	707
708	708	(2) THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAMS, REQUIREMENTS , AND GRANT 17
709	709	AWARDS ON: 18
710	710
711	711	(I) JOB CREATION; 19
712	712
713	713	(II) WASTE PREVENTION , FOOD RESCUE , AND WASTE 20
714	714	DIVERSION; AND 21
715	715
716	716	(III) FARMERS; AND 22
717	717
718	718	(3) BENEFITS PROVIDED TO THE STATE FROM THE PROGRA MS, 23
719	719	REQUIREMENTS , AND GRANTS AWARDED . 24
720	720
721	721	Article – State Finance and Procurement 25
722	722
723	723	6–226. 26
724	724
725	725	(a) (2) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 27
726	726	inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 28
727	727	terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the 29 SENATE BILL 56 17
728	728
729	729
730	730	State Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to 1
731	731	receive interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General 2
732	732	Fund of the State. 3
733	733
734	734	(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 4
735	735	to the following funds: 5
736	736
737	737	189. the Teacher Retention and Development Fund; [and] 6
738	738
739	739	190. the Protecting Against Hate Crimes Grant Fund; AND 7
740	740
741	741	191. THE REDUCE, RECYCLE, REMANUFACTURE FUND. 8
742	742
743	743	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 9
744	744	as follows: 10
745	745
746	746	Article – Education 11
747	747
748	748	7–130. 12
749	749
750	750	(a) In this section, “Program” means the Grant Program to Reduce and Compost 13
751	751	School Waste. 14
752	752
753	753	(b) There is a Grant Program to Reduce and Compost School Waste within the 15
754	754	Department. 16
755	755
756	756	(c) (1) The purpose of the Program is to award grants to county boards and 17
757	757	public schools to develop and implement programs for reducing food waste and to establish 18
758	758	composting of pre– and post–consumer waste. 19
759	759
760	760	(h) (1) The Department shall coordinate with the Department of the 20
761	761	Environment to identify and apply for federal funding that may be used to support the 21
762	762	Program. 22
763	763
764	764	(2) THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT SHALL USE FUNDS 23
765	765	FROM THE REDUCE, RECYCLE, REMANUFACTURE FUND ESTABLISHED UNDER § 24
766	766	9–17A–04 OF THE ENVIRONMENT ARTICLE TO SUPPORT TH E PROGRAM. 25
767	767
768	768	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 26
769	769	October 1, 2024. Section 2 of this Act shall remain effective until the taking effect of the 27
770	770	termination provision specified in Section 2 of Chapter 205 of the Acts of the General 28
771	771	Assembly of 2022. If that termination provision takes effect, Section 2 of this Act, with no 29
772	772	further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no further force 30
773	773	and effect. This Act may not be interpreted to have any effect on that termination provision. 31
774	774