Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB642 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	sb0642
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 642
8	8	M3 4lr2528
9	9	CF HB 735
10	10	By: Senators Brooks, Rosapepe, Muse, Waldstreicher, Gile, Carter, Kagan,
11	11	Jackson, Augustine, Kelly, Lewis Young, M. Washington, Hettleman, Lam,
12	12	Benson, and Elfreth
13	13	Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2024
14	14	Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
15	15
16	16	A BILL ENTITLED
17	17
18	18	AN ACT concerning 1
19	19
20	20	Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program 2
21	21
22	22	FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and 3
23	23	Litter Reduction Program to increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers 4
24	24	and reduce the litter, pollution, and costs associated with beverage containers; 5
25	25	altering the duties of the Office of Recycling; altering the contents and use of the 6
26	26	State Recycling Trust Fund; requiring the Comptroller to establish a separate 7
27	27	account within the Fund; requiring that each redeemable beverage container sold in 8
28	28	the State depict certain information beginning on a certain date; requiring the 9
29	29	wholesale price and retail price of a full redeemable beverage container to include 10
30	30	the refund value of the container, subject to a certain exception, beginning on a 11
31	31	certain date; requiring a retailer to include certain information on a customer’s sales 12
32	32	receipt; establishing a framework for the redemption of redeemable beverage 13
33	33	containers sold in the State; requiring a producer to provide a certified copy of a 14
34	34	certain contractual agreement to the relevant beverage container stewardship 15
35	35	organization; prohibiting a producer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing in 16
36	36	or importing into the State a redeemable beverage container unless the producer is 17
37	37	registered with the Department of the Environment, pays a certain fee, and is part 18
38	38	of a certain beverage container stewardship organization; establishing a framework 19
39	39	for a beverage container stewardship organization to represent producers in fulfilling 20
40	40	the requirements of this Act; requiring each beverage container stewardship 21
41	41	organization to submit a certain beverage container stewardship plan to the 22
42	42	Department for approval; requiring a beverage container stewardship organization 23
43	43	to implement and administer a beverage container stewardship plan within a certain 24
44	44	time after the plan is approved; requiring the Department to establish a process for 25
45	45	a county or municipal corporation to create a redemption facility; authorizing 26
46	46	redeemable beverage containers redeemed at a redemption facility managed by a 27
47	47	county or municipal corporation to be credited toward meeting certain recycling 28
48	48	rates; establishing the Beverage Container Recycling Refund Grant Program to 29 2 SENATE BILL 642
49	49
50	50
51	51	increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers in the State, increase the 1
52	52	availability of public water fountains and refill stations in the State, and reduce the 2
53	53	volume of litter from beverage containers in the State; establishing the Redeemable 3
54	54	Beverage Container Recycling Refund Advisory Council to review certain reports, 4
55	55	make certain recommendations, and advise the Department on certain matters; 5
56	56	providing immunity from liability to a certain producer or beverage container 6
57	57	stewardship organization under certain circumstances; and generally relating to the 7
58	58	Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program. 8
59	59
60	60	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
61	61	Article – Environment 10
62	62	Section 9–1701(a) and (q) and 9–1702(a) 11
63	63	Annotated Code of Maryland 12
64	64	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
65	65
66	66	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
67	67	Article – Environment 15
68	68	Section 9–1702(d) and 9–1707(f) 16
69	69	Annotated Code of Maryland 17
70	70	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
71	71
72	72	BY adding to 19
73	73	Article – Environment 20
74	74	Section 9–1733 through 9–1751 to be under the new part “Part V. Maryland 21
75	75	Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program” 22
76	76	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
77	77	(2014 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 24
78	78
79	79	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 25
80	80	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 26
81	81
82	82	Article – Environment 27
83	83
84	84	9–1701. 28
85	85
86	86	(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 29
87	87
88	88	(q) “Recycling” means any process in which recyclable materials are collected, 30
89	89	separated, or processed and returned to the marketplace in the form of raw materials or 31
90	90	products. 32
91	91
92	92	9–1702. 33
93	93
94	94	(a) There is an Office of Recycling created within the Department. 34
95	95
96	96	(d) The Office shall: 35
97	97	SENATE BILL 642 3
98	98
99	99
100	100	(1) Assist the counties in developing an acceptable recycling plan required 1
101	101	under § 9–1703 of this subtitle and § 9–505 of this title, including technical assistance to 2
102	102	the local governments; 3
103	103
104	104	(2) Coordinate the efforts of the State to facilitate the implementation of 4
105	105	the recycling goals at the county level; 5
106	106
107	107	(3) Review all recycling plans submitted as part of a county plan as 6
108	108	required under § 9–505 of this title and advise the Secretary on the adequacy of the 7
109	109	recycling plan; 8
110	110
111	111	(4) Administer the Statewide Electronics Recycling Program under Part IV 9
112	112	of this subtitle; [and] 10
113	113
114	114	(5) Promote the development of markets for recycled materials and 11
115	115	recycled products in the State in accordance with § 9–1702.1 of this subtitle; AND 12
116	116
117	117	(6) ADMINISTER THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 13
118	118	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 14
119	119	9–1735 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 15
120	120
121	121	9–1707. 16
122	122
123	123	(f) (1) There is a State Recycling Trust Fund. 17
124	124
125	125	(2) The Fund shall consist of: 18
126	126
127	127	(i) The newsprint recycling incentive fee; 19
128	128
129	129	(ii) The telephone directory recycling incentive fee collected under § 20
130	130	9–1709 of this subtitle; 21
131	131
132	132	(iii) The covered electronic device manufacturer registration fee 22
133	133	collected under § 9–1728 of this subtitle; 23
134	134
135	135	(IV) UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS , FEES, AND PENALTIES 24
136	136	TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND UNDER §§ 9–1739, 9–1740, AND 9–1750 OF THIS 25
137	137	SUBTITLE; 26
138	138
139	139	[(iv)] (V) All fines and penalties collected under this subtitle; 27
140	140
141	141	[(v)] (VI) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and 28
142	142
143	143	[(vi)] (VII) Any other money from any other source accepted for the 29
144	144	benefit of the Fund. 30
145	145	4 SENATE BILL 642
146	146
147	147
148	148	(3) The Secretary shall administer the Fund. 1
149	149
150	150	(4) The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall 2
151	151	account for the Fund. 3
152	152
153	153	(5) (I) [At] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 4
154	154	PARAGRAPH , AT the end of each fiscal year, any unspent or unencumbered balance in the 5
155	155	Fund that exceeds $2,000,000 shall revert to the General Fund of the State in accordance 6
156	156	with § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. 7
157	157
158	158	(II) THE FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND UNDER 8
159	159	PARAGRAPH (2)(IV) OF THIS SUBSECTION A RE NOT SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE 9
160	160	STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE AND MAY NOT R EVERT TO THE 10
161	161	GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 11
162	162
163	163	(6) In accordance with the State budget, the Fund shall be used only: 12
164	164
165	165	(i) To provide grants to the counties to be used by the counties to 13
166	166	develop and implement local recycling plans; 14
167	167
168	168	(ii) To provide grants to counties that have addressed methods for 15
169	169	the separate collection and recycling of covered electronic devices in accordance with § 16
170	170	9–1703(c)(1) of this subtitle; 17
171	171
172	172	(iii) To provide grants to municipalities to be used by the 18
173	173	municipalities to implement local covered electronic device recycling programs; [and] 19
174	174
175	175	(iv) To carry out the purposes of the land management 20
176	176	administration; AND 21
177	177
178	178	(V) TO COVER THE COSTS OF ADMINISTERING, MONITORING , 22
179	179	EVALUATING, AND ENFORCING THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 23
180	180	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 24
181	181	9–1735 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 25
182	182
183	183	(7) (I) THE COMPTROLLER SHALL EST ABLISH A SEPARATE 26
184	184	ACCOUNT WITHIN THE FUND. 27
185	185
186	186	(II) THE ACCOUNT SHALL CON SIST OF THE FUNDS SP ECIFIED IN 28
187	187	PARAGRAPH (2)(IV) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 29
188	188
189	189	(III) THE ACCOUNT MAY BE US ED ONLY TO: 30
190	190
191	191	1. COVER THE COSTS OF AD MINISTERING, MONITORING , 31
192	192	EVALUATING, AND ENFORCING THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 32 SENATE BILL 642 5
193	193
194	194
195	195	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 1
196	196	9–1735 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 2
197	197
198	198	2. FUND THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING 3
199	199	REFUND GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 4
200	200
201	201	3. COMPENSATE LOCAL GOVE RNMENTS IN 5
202	202	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–1744 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 6
203	203
204	204	4. MEET OR EXCEED THE PE RFORMANCE TARGETS 7
205	205	ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8
206	206
207	207	[(7)] (8) (i) The Treasurer shall invest the money in the Fund in the 9
208	208	same manner as other State money may be invested. 10
209	209
210	210	(ii) Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the 11
211	211	General Fund of the State. 12
212	212
213	213	9–1731. RESERVED. 13
214	214
215	215	9–1732. RESERVED. 14
216	216
217	217	PART V. MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER 15
218	218	REDUCTION PROGRAM. 16
219	219
220	220	9–1733. 17
221	221
222	222	(A) IN THIS PART THE FOLL OWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 18
223	223	INDICATED. 19
224	224
225	225	(B) (1) “ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM ” MEANS A 20
226	226	PROGRAM THAT : 21
227	227
228	228	(I) UTILIZES A SYSTEM OF CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS AN D A 22
229	229	MECHANISM TO ASSOCIA TE REDEEMED REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS WITH 23
230	230	THE APPROPRIATE CUST OMER ACCOUNT ; 24
231	231
232	232	(II) CONSOLIDATES THE REDE EMED REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE 25
233	233	CONTAINERS FOR BULK SORTING WHILE COLLEC TING DATA ABOUT THE 26
234	234	CONTAINERS; 27
235	235
236	236	(III) FULLY PREPARES REDEEM ED REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 28
237	237	CONTAINERS FOR SALE TO RECYCLERS ; AND 29
238	238	6 SENATE BILL 642
239	239
240	240
241	241	(IV) COLLECTS DATA TO SUPP ORT AN ACCO UNTING OF THE 1
242	242	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS, INCLUDING THE DEPOSI TS, FEES, AND 2
243	243	POUNDS OF MATERIAL P RODUCED THAT ARE ASS OCIATED WITH THE RED EEMABLE 3
244	244	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS . 4
245	245
246	246	(2) “ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM ” INCLUDES A 5
247	247	BAG DROP PROGRAM IF THE BAG D ROP PROGRAM IS A COM PONENT OF THE 6
248	248	ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM. 7
249	249
250	250	(C) “ADVISORY COUNCIL” MEANS THE REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 8
251	251	CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND ADVISORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED U NDER § 9
252	252	9–1748 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 10
253	253
254	254	(D) “BAG DROP PROGRAM ” MEANS A PROGR AM THAT ALLOWS A CUS TOMER 11
255	255	TO: 12
256	256
257	257	(1) DROP OFF EMPTY REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS IN A BAG 13
258	258	OR OTHER RECEPTACLE AT ONE OR MORE LOCAT IONS FOR A REFUND ; AND 14
259	259
260	260	(2) HAVE THE CORRESPONDIN G REFUND PLACED INTO AN ACCOUNT 15
261	261	HELD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CUSTOMER IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS T HE 16
262	262	CUSTOMER TO OBTAIN T HE REFUND OR REFUND RECEIPT WITHIN A SPE CIFIED 17
263	263	NUMBER OF DAYS AFTER THE DROP–OFF. 18
264	264
265	265	(E) (1) “BEVERAGE” MEANS ANY DRINKABLE LIQUID INTENDED FOR 19
266	266	HUMAN ORAL CONSUMPTI ON. 20
267	267
268	268	(2) “BEVERAGE” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 21
269	269
270	270	(I) DRUGS REGULATED UNDER THE FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, 22
271	271	AND COSMETIC ACT; AND 23
272	272
273	273	(II) INFANT FORMULA . 24
274	274
275	275	(F) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ” MEANS A BOTTLE , CAN, OR OTHER 25
276	276	CONTAINER THAT : 26
277	277
278	278	(1) HAS BEEN SEALED BY A MANUFACTURER ; 27
279	279
280	280	(2) IS MADE OF GLASS , METAL, OR PLASTIC; AND 28
281	281
282	282	(3) AT THE TIME OF SALE , CONTAINS 3 LITERS OR LESS OF A 29
283	283	BEVERAGE. 30 SENATE BILL 642 7
284	284
285	285
286	286
287	287	(G) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER RE DEMPTION AND PROCESS ING METHOD ” 1
288	288	MEANS A MANUAL OR TE CHNOLOGICAL METHOD F OR PROPERLY COLLECTI NG, 2
289	289	IDENTIFYING, COUNTING, OR PROCESSING EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 3
290	290	CONTAINERS FOR REDEM PTION. 4
291	291
292	292	(H) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON” MEANS A 5
293	293	NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON THAT IS: 6
294	294
295	295	(1) EXEMPT FROM TAXATION UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL 7
296	296	REVENUE CODE; AND 8
297	297
298	298	(2) CREATED BY PRODUCERS TO IMPLEMENT A BEVER AGE 9
299	299	CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PL AN. 10
300	300
301	301	(I) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP PLAN ” MEANS A PLAN 11
302	302	SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 12
303	303
304	304	(J) “DEPOSIT INITIATOR ” MEANS THE FIRST DIST RIBUTOR TO COLLECT A 13
305	305	DEPOSIT ON A BEVERAG E CONTAINER SOLD IN THE STATE. 14
306	306
307	307	(K) (1) “DISTRIBUTOR” MEANS A PERSON THAT SELLS BEVERAGES IN 15
308	308	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS TO A RETA ILER IN THE STATE. 16
309	309
310	310	(2) “DISTRIBUTOR” INCLUDES A PERSON TH AT MANUFACTURES AND 17
311	311	SELLS BEVERAGES IN R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS TO A RETAI LER IN THE 18
312	312	STATE. 19
313	313
314	314	(3) “DISTRIBUTOR” DOES NOT INCLUDE AIR LINES OR SHIPPING 20
315	315	COMPANIES THAT TRANS PORT REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS . 21
316	316
317	317	(L) “GRANT PROGRAM” MEANS THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING 22
318	318	REFUND GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 23
319	319
320	320	(M) “LINE BREAKAGE ” MEANS A BEVERAGE CON TAINER THAT: 24
321	321
322	322	(1) BECOMES DEFECTIVE OR DAMAGED DURING MANUF ACTURING; 25
323	323
324	324	(2) IS NOT INTENDED TO BE SOLD; AND 26
325	325
326	326	(3) IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR R EDEMPTION. 27
327	327	8 SENATE BILL 642
328	328
329	329
330	330	(N) “MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE” MEANS A UNIVERSAL PR ODUCT 1
331	331	CODE THAT IS: 2
332	332
333	333	(1) UNIQUE TO BEVERAGE CO NTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE; AND 3
334	334
335	335	(2) USED TO DETER FRAUD A ND ENSURE THE LEGITI MATE 4
336	336	REDEMPTION OF REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS. 5
337	337
338	338	(O) (1) “ON–PREMISES SELLER ” MEANS A PERSON THAT SELLS FILLED 6
339	339	AND UNOPENED REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS FOR ON –PREMISES 7
340	340	CONSUMPTION . 8
341	341
342	342	(2) “ON–PREMISES SELLER ” INCLUDES: 9
343	343
344	344	(I) BARS; 10
345	345
346	346	(II) HOTELS; 11
347	347
348	348	(III) RESTAURANTS ; 12
349	349
350	350	(IV) SPORTING VENUES ; 13
351	351
352	352	(V) ENTERTAINMENT VENUES ; AND 14
353	353
354	354	(VI) GAMING VENUES . 15
355	355
356	356	(P) “PERFORMANCE TARGETS ” MEANS THE TARGETS ES TABLISHED UNDER 16
357	357	§ 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 17
358	358
359	359	(Q) (1) “PRODUCER” MEANS A PERSON RESPO NSIBLE FOR COMPLYING 18
360	360	WITH THE REQUIREMENT S UNDER THIS PART . 19
361	361
362	362	(2) “PRODUCER” INCLUDES A FRANCHISO R OF A FRANCHISE 20
363	363	LOCATED IN THE STATE. 21
364	364
365	365	(3) “PRODUCER” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 22
366	366
367	367	(I) THE STATE, A COUNTY, A MUNICIPAL CORPORAT ION, OR 23
368	368	ANY OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE; 24
369	369
370	370	(II) A CHARITABLE ORGANIZAT ION THAT IS TAX –EXEMPT 25
371	371	UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; 26
372	372	SENATE BILL 642 9
373	373
374	374
375	375	(III) A SOCIAL WELFARE ORGAN IZATION THAT IS TAX –EXEMPT 1
376	376	UNDER § 501(C)(4) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; 2
377	377
378	378	(IV) A FRANCHISEE THAT OPER ATES A FRANCHISE IN THE 3
379	379	STATE; 4
380	380
381	381	(V) A PERSON THAT ANNUALLY SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE , 5
382	382	DISTRIBUTES, OR IMPORTS INTO THE COUNTRY FOR SALE IN THE STATE FEWER 6
383	383	THAN 1,000 REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS; OR 7
384	384
385	385	(VI) A PERSON THAT ANNUALLY SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE , OR 8
386	386	DISTRIBUTES IN THE STATE REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS THAT IN 9
387	387	AGGREGATE GENERATE L ESS THAN $5,000,000 EACH YEAR IN GLOBAL REVENUE. 10
388	388
389	389	(R) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 11
390	390	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 12
391	391	9–1735 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 13
392	392
393	393	(S) “RECYCLING RATE ” MEANS THE NUMBER OF NONREFILLABLE 14
394	394	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE THAT ARE REDEEM ED 15
395	395	AND RECYCLED SHOWN A S A PERCENTAGE OF AL L NONREFILLABLE REDE EMABLE 16
396	396	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE. 17
397	397
398	398	(T) “REDEEM” MEANS THE RETURN OF AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 18
399	399	CONTAINER IN EXCHANG E FOR A REFUND , A VOUCHER FOR A REFU ND, OR A CREDIT 19
400	400	TO AN ACCOUNT FOR NO T LESS THAN THE REFU ND VALUE. 20
401	401
402	402	(U) “REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER” MEANS A BEVERAGE 21
403	403	CONTAINER THAT , AT THE TIME OF SALE : 22
404	404
405	405	(1) CONTAINS 3 LITERS OR LESS OF A BEVERAGE; 23
406	406
407	407	(2) BEARS A UNIVERSAL PRO DUCT CODE; AND 24
408	408
409	409	(3) MAY BEAR A MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE FOR THE 25
410	410	PURPOSE OF ENSURING LEGITIMATE REDEMPTIO N AND DETERRING FRAU D. 26
411	411
412	412	(V) “REDEMPTION FACILITY ” MEANS A FACILITY THA T: 27
413	413
414	414	(1) ACCEPTS EMPTY BEVERAG E CONTAINERS FROM A CONSUMER , A 28
415	415	RETAILER, OR BOTH; 29
416	416
417	417	(2) COLLECTS, SORTS, AND COUNTS EMPTY BEV ERAGE CONTAINERS ; 30 10 SENATE BILL 642
418	418
419	419
420	420
421	421	(3) REFUNDS THE REFUND VA LUE OF EMPTY REDEEMA BLE 1
422	422	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN CASH, WITH A VOUCHER , OR AS A CREDIT TO AN 2
423	423	ACCOUNT FOR NOT LESS THAN THE REFUND VALU E OF THE REDEEMABLE 3
424	424	BEVERAGE CONTAINER ; AND 4
425	425
426	426	(4) IS LICENSED UNDER § 9–1738 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5
427	427
428	428	(W) “REDEMPTION RATE ” MEANS THE PERCENTAGE OF REDEEMABLE 6
429	429	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE THAT ARE REDEEM ED FOR THE 7
430	430	DEPOSIT VALUE . 8
431	431
432	432	(X) “REFILLABLE” MEANS A BEVERAGE CON TAINER THAT IS DESIG NED AND 9
433	433	INTENDED TO BE REUSED AS A BE VERAGE CONTAINER AFT ER BEING USED BY A 10
434	434	CONSUMER WITHOUT THE NEED FOR REMANUFACTU RING. 11
435	435
436	436	(Y) (1) “RETAILER” MEANS A PERSON THAT ENGAGES IN THE SALE OF 12
437	437	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS TO A CONS UMER IN THE STATE. 13
438	438
439	439	(2) “RETAILER” INCLUDES A PERSON THAT ENGAGE S IN THE SALE OF 14
440	440	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS: 15
441	441
442	442	(I) THROUGH A VENDING MAC HINE; OR 16
443	443
444	444	(II) ONLINE FOR HOME DELIV ERY. 17
445	445
446	446	(Z) “REVERSE VENDING MACHI NE” MEANS AN AUTOMATED D EVICE THAT: 18
447	447
448	448	(1) ACCEPTS ONE OR MORE T YPES OF EMPTY REDEEM ABLE 19
449	449	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 20
450	450
451	451	(2) USES A LASER SCANNER , AN OPTICAL SENSOR , A 21
452	452	MICROPROCESSOR , OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY TO ACCURATELY RECOGN IZE A 22
453	453	BEVERAGE CONTAINER ’S UNIVERSAL PRODUCT CODE TO DETERMINE WH ETHER THE 23
454	454	CONTAINER IS A REDEE MABLE BEVERAGE CONTA INER; 24
455	455
456	456	(3) ISSUES A REDEEMABLE C REDIT SLIP FOR THE R EDEEMABLE 25
457	457	BEVERAGE CONTAINER ’S REFUND VALUE ; 26
458	458
459	459	(4) SEPARATES REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FROM 27
460	460	CONTAINERS THAT ARE NOT REDEEMABLE ; 28
461	461	SENATE BILL 642 11
462	462
463	463
464	464	(5) USES MECHANICAL COMPA CTION TO CANCEL REDE EMABLE 1
465	465	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT HAVE BEEN REDEE MED; AND 2
466	466
467	467	(6) COMPILES INFORMATION REGARDING THE REDEEM ABLE 3
468	468	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT HAVE BEEN REDEE MED, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF 4
469	469	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS REDEEMED . 5
470	470
471	471	(AA) (1) “UNIVERSAL PRODUCT COD E” OR “UPC” MEANS A STANDARD 6
472	472	BARCODE THAT ENCODES A NUMBER UNIQUELY ASSI GNED TO A PRODUCT FO R 7
473	473	IDENTIFICATION OF TH E PRODUCT. 8
474	474
475	475	(2) “UNIVERSAL PRODUCT COD E” OR “UPC” INCLUDES: 9
476	476
477	477	(I) ANY INDUSTRY–ACCEPTED BARCODE USE D FOR PRODUCT 10
478	478	IDENTIFICATION PURPO SES; AND 11
479	479
480	480	(II) A EUROPEAN ARTICL E NUMBER. 12
481	481
482	482	9–1734. 13
483	483
484	484	IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO: 14
485	485
486	486	(1) ACHIEVE A REDEMPTION RATE OF AT LEAST 90% FOR THE 15
487	487	APPROXIMATELY 5,200,000,000 SINGLE–USE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD 16
488	488	ANNUALLY IN THE STATE; 17
489	489
490	490	(2) PROVIDE A SOURCE OF H IGH–QUALITY FOOD–GRADE MATERIALS 18
491	491	FOR USE AS RECYCLED CONTENT IN BEVERAGE AND FOOD CONTAINERS ; 19
492	492
493	493	(3) REDUCE THE VOLUME OF LITTER AND PLASTIC P OLLUTION FROM 20
494	494	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN THE STATE; 21
495	495
496	496	(4) REDUCE THE VOLUME OF BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT ARE 22
497	497	LANDFILLED OR INCINE RATED IN THE STATE; 23
498	498
499	499	(5) REDUCE THE COSTS OF L ITTER AND BEVERAGE C ONTAINER 24
500	500	COLLECTION, RECYCLING, AND DISPOSAL INCURRE D BY TAXPAYERS , COUNTIES, 25
501	501	AND MUNICIPAL CORPOR ATIONS BY MAKING PRO DUCERS OF BEVERAGE 26
502	502	CONTAINERS RESPONSIB LE FOR THE RECOVERY , RECYCLING, AND REUSE OF 27
503	503	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 28
504	504
505	505	(6) PROVIDE INCENTIVES FO R INCREASING THE USE OF REUSABLE 29
506	506	AND REFILLABLE BEVER AGE CONTAINERS ; AND 30 12 SENATE BILL 642
507	507
508	508
509	509
510	510	(7) REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 1
511	511	PRODUCTION , TRANSPORTATION , PROCESSING, AND WASTE DISPOSAL O F 2
512	512	SINGLE–USE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD IN THE STATE. 3
513	513
514	514	9–1735. 4
515	515
516	516	THERE IS A MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND AND 5
517	517	LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT . 6
518	518
519	519	9–1736. 7
520	520
521	521	PERFORMANCE TARGETS F OR THE PROGRAM ARE AS FOLLOW S: 8
522	522
523	523	(1) A 70% REDEMPTION RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2028; 9
524	524
525	525	(2) A 90% REDEMPTION RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2031; 10
526	526
527	527	(3) A 65% RECYCLING RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2028; 11
528	528
529	529	(4) AN 85% RECYCLING RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2031; 12
530	530
531	531	(5) BY DECEMBER 31, 2026, ATTAINMENT OF ALL CO NVENIENCE 13
532	532	STANDARDS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1747 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 14
533	533	AND 15
534	534
535	535	(6) BY DECEMBER 31, 2034, AT LEAST 10% OF ALL BEVERAGE 16
536	536	CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE ARE RETURNED AND R EFILLED. 17
537	537
538	538	9–1737. 18
539	539
540	540	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 19
541	541	BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027, EACH REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINER SOLD IN 20
542	542	THE STATE SHALL INCLUDE A DEPICTION OF THE FOL LOWING INFORMATION : 21
543	543
544	544	(I) THE WORD “MARYLAND” OR THE LETTERS “MD”; AND 22
545	545
546	546	(II) 1. FOR REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE CONTAINERS WITH A 23
547	547	VOLUME OF 24 FLUID OUNCES OR LESS , A REFUND VALUE OF 10 CENTS; OR 24
548	548
549	549	2. FOR REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE CONTAINERS WITH A 25
550	550	VOLUME OF MORE THAN 24 FLUID OUNCES , A REFUND VALU E OF 15 CENTS. 26
551	551	SENATE BILL 642 13
552	552
553	553
554	554	(2) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADJUST THE REFUND VALUES SP ECIFIED 1
555	555	IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION : 2
556	556
557	557	(I) IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES ALTERING THE REFUND 3
558	558	VALUES IS NECESSARY TO MEET OR EXCEED PE RFORMANCE TARGETS ; OR 4
559	559
560	560	(II) AT THE REQUEST OF A BEVERAGE CONTAI NER 5
561	561	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION. 6
562	562
563	563	(3) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2031, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 7
564	564	INCREASE THE REFUND VALUES SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 8
565	565	BY 5 CENTS IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE 9
566	566	CALENDAR YEARS THE REDEMPTION RATE WAS LESS THAN 90% OF THE TOTAL 10
567	567	NUMBER OF BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS SOLD IN TH E STATE. 11
568	568
569	569	(B) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER D EPICTING THE INFORMA TION SPECIFIED IN 12
570	570	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE SOLD TO A CON SUMER BEFORE 13
571	571	JANUARY 1, 2027. 14
572	572
573	573	(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 15
574	574	BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027: 16
575	575
576	576	(I) THE WHOLESALE PRICE A ND THE RETAIL PRICE OF A FULL 17
577	577	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER SHALL INCL UDE THE REFUND VALUE OF THE 18
578	578	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER; AND 19
579	579
580	580	(II) A RETAILER SHALL INCLU DE ON A CUSTOMER ’S SALES 20
581	581	RECEIPT THE REFUND V ALUE OF A REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S OLD BY 21
582	582	THE RETAILER TO THE CUSTOMER. 22
583	583
584	584	(2) THE RETAIL PRICE OF A FULL REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE 23
585	585	CONTAINER SOLD BY AN ON–PREMISES SELLER MAY NOT INCLUD E THE REFUND 24
586	586	VALUE OF THE REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER. 25
587	587
588	588	9–1738. 26
589	589
590	590	(A) (1) THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE A RANGE OF OPTIONS F OR 27
591	591	CUSTOMERS TO CONVENI ENTLY REDEEM EMPTY R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 28
592	592	CONTAINERS FOR THE F ULL REFUND VALUE , INCLUDING: 29
593	593
594	594	(I) AT A RETAILER’S PLACE OF BUSINESS THROUGH DIRECT 30
595	595	TAKE–BACK BY THE RETAILER , REVERSE VENDING MACH INES, A BAG DROP 31
596	596	PROGRAM, OR OTHER REDEMPTION METHODS; 32 14 SENATE BILL 642
597	597
598	598
599	599
600	600	(II) DEDICATED AND CONVENI ENTLY LOCATED REDEMP TION 1
601	601	FACILITIES OPERATED BY RETAILERS , PUBLIC ENTITIES , OR A BEVERAGE 2
602	602	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION ; AND 3
603	603
604	604	(III) PLACING REDEEMABLE BE VERAGE CONTAINER 4
605	605	REDEMPTION AND PROCE SSING METHODS , SUCH AS REVERSE VEND ING MACHINES , 5
606	606	BAG DROP PROGRAMS , AND ACCOUNT –BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAMS , IN 6
607	607	AREAS: 7
608	608
609	609	1. WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF PEDEST RIANS; AND 8
610	610
611	611	2. WHERE INDIVIDUALS PUR CHASE OR USE BEVERAG E 9
612	612	CONTAINERS. 10
613	613
614	614	(2) THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE A RANGE OF OPTIONS F OR 11
615	615	ON–PREMISES SELLERS TO CONVENIENTLY REDEEM EMPTY REDEEMABLE 12
616	616	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR THE FULL REFUND VALUE, INCLUDING: 13
617	617
618	618	(I) AN ACCOUNT –BASED REFUND ISSUED BY A BEVERAGE 14
619	619	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION OR IT S AGENTS FOLLOWING T HE 15
620	620	COLLECTION OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS BY THE BE VERAGE 16
621	621	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION OR IT S AGENTS FROM THE ON –PREMISES 17
622	622	SELLER; OR 18
623	623
624	624	(II) AN ACCOUNT–BASED REFUND ISSUED BY THE OPERATOR OF 19
625	625	A BAG DROP PROGRAM . 20
626	626
627	627	(B) (1) A PERSON SHALL APPLY T O THE DEPARTMENT FOR A LICE NSE TO 21
628	628	OPERATE A REDEMPTION FACILITY IN THE STATE. 22
629	629
630	630	(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVE LOP STANDARDS AND A 23
631	631	LICENSING PROCESS FO R THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF RED EMPTION 24
632	632	FACILITIES. 25
633	633
634	634	(C) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , A REDEMPTION 26
635	635	FACILITY SHALL ACCEP T ALL TYPES OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 27
636	636	CONTAINERS FOR REDEM PTION. 28
637	637
638	638	(D) A RETAILER OR REDEMPTION FACILI TY MAY REFUSE TO ACC EPT AN 29
639	639	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER THAT : 30
640	640
641	641	(1) IS DIRTY; 31 SENATE BILL 642 15
642	642
643	643
644	644
645	645	(2) IS BROKEN; 1
646	646
647	647	(3) CONTAINS MATERIAL FOR EIGN TO THE NORMAL C ONTENTS OF 2
648	648	THE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER; OR 3
649	649
650	650	(4) THE RETAILER OR REDEM PTION FACILITY BELIE VES WAS NOT 4
651	651	SOLD IN THE STATE. 5
652	652
653	653	(E) (1) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES TO A RETAILER WIT H AT LEAST 3,000 6
654	654	SQUARE FEET OF SALES FLOOR SPACE AND AT L EAST 150 SQUARE FEET OF SHELF 7
655	655	SPACE DEDICATED TO T HE DISPLAY OF REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS . 8
656	656
657	657	(2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , A RETAILER 9
658	658	SHALL: 10
659	659
660	660	(I) ESTABLISH AND MAINTAI N A DEDICATED AREA A T THE 11
661	661	RETAILER’S PLACE OF BUSINESS TO ACCEPT EMPTY REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE 12
662	662	CONTAINERS; 13
663	663
664	664	(II) ACCEPT AT THE RETAILE R’S PLACE OF BUSINESS ANY 14
665	665	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINERS RET URNED FOR REDEMPTION 15
666	666	DURING THE RETAILER ’S BUSINESS HOURS ; AND 16
667	667
668	668	(III) PAY TO THE REDEEMER T HE REFUND VALUE FOR EACH 17
669	669	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER REDE EMED. 18
670	670
671	671	(3) RETAILERS MAY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF 19
672	672	THIS SUBSECTION THRO UGH VARIOUS METHODS , INCLUDING: 20
673	673
674	674	(I) SUPPLEMENTING THE MAN UAL COLLECTION AND S TORING 21
675	675	OF REDEEMED REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS WITH A REVERSE VE NDING 22
676	676	MACHINE, A BAG DROP PROGRAM , OR OTHER COUNTIN G AND SORTING METHOD S; 23
677	677	AND 24
678	678
679	679	(II) GROUPING BEVERAGE CON TAINER REDEMPTION AN D 25
680	680	PROCESSING METHODS W ITH THOSE OF OTHER R ETAILERS IF: 26
681	681
682	682	1. A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 27
683	683	ORGANIZATION APPROVE S THE PROPOSAL ; AND 28
684	684
685	685	2. THE RETAILERS PARTICI PATING IN THE GROUPED 29
686	686	METHODS PROVIDE CONS ISTENT SERVICE , MARKETING, AND SITE REDEMPTION 30 16 SENATE BILL 642
687	687
688	688
689	689	LOCATIONS THAT COMPL Y WITH DISTANCE PROV ISIONS DETERMINED BY THE 1
690	690	DEPARTMENT . 2
691	691
692	692	(4) A RETAILER WITHIN AN A REA THAT MEETS THE C ONVENIENCE 3
693	693	STANDARDS ESTABLISHE D BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDE R § 9–1747 OF THIS 4
694	694	SUBTITLE MAY BE EXEM PT FROM THE REQUIREM ENTS OF THIS SUBSECT ION IF THE 5
695	695	RETAILER: 6
696	696
697	697	(I) IS LOCATED IN CLOSE P ROXIMITY TO A REDEMP TION 7
698	698	FACILITY IN THAT ARE A; AND 8
699	699
700	700	(II) SHARES THE COST OF TH E OPERATION OF THE 9
701	701	REDEMPTION FACILITY WITH A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 10
702	702	ORGANIZATION . 11
703	703
704	704	(5) THE DEPARTMENT MAY : 12
705	705
706	706	(I) SET STANDARDS FOR THE NUMBER OF REVERSE VE NDING 13
707	707	MACHINES REQUIRED FO R RETAILERS LOCATED IN UNDERSERVED COMMU NITIES; 14
708	708	AND 15
709	709
710	710	(II) ESTABLISH A CAP FOR T HE NUMBER OF EMPTY 16
711	711	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS THAT CAN BE RED EEMED PER VISIT AT 17
712	712	SMALL RETAILERS . 18
713	713
714	714	(F) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, A RETAILER WITH LESS 19
715	715	THAN 3,000 SQUARE FEET OF SALES FLOOR SPACE OR LESS THAN 150 SQUARE FEET 20
716	716	OF SHELF SPACE DEDIC ATED TO THE DISPL AY OF REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE 21
717	717	CONTAINERS SHALL : 22
718	718
719	719	(1) PROVIDE ON–SITE CASH REFUNDS FO R THE REDEMPTION OF ANY 23
720	720	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER THAT IS OF THE SAME MATER IAL AND 24
721	721	SIZE AS THOSE THAT A RE SOLD BY THE RETAI LER IF THE EMPTY RED EEMABLE 25
722	722	BEVERAGE CONT AINER BEING REDEEMED IS NOT ACCEPTED BY A REVERSE 26
723	723	VENDING MACHINE ; AND 27
724	724
725	725	(2) POST AT THE RETAILER ’S ENTRANCE THE ADDRE SS OF THE 28
726	726	NEAREST REVERSE VEND ING MACHINE OR OTHER REDEMPTION METHOD TH AT 29
727	727	PROVIDES AN IMMEDIAT E CASH REFUND FOR RE DEEMING EMPTY REDEEM ABLE 30
728	728	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS . 31
729	729
730	730	(G) (1) A PERSON THAT PROVIDES A REVERSE VENDING MA CHINE FOR 32
731	731	THE REDEMPTION OF EM PTY REDEEMABLE BEVER AGE CONTAINERS SHALL : 33 SENATE BILL 642 17
732	732
733	733
734	734
735	735	(I) PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR REDEEMING EMPTY REDE EMABLE 1
736	736	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS WHEN THE REVERSE VEN DING MACH INE IS FULL, BROKEN, 2
737	737	OR UNDER REPAIR ; AND 3
738	738
739	739	(II) PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR REDEEMING ANY EMPTY 4
740	740	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS NOT ACCEP TED BY THE REVERSE V ENDING 5
741	741	MACHINE. 6
742	742
743	743	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A PROCESS FOR 7
744	744	SUBMITTING FOR REVIE W, APPROVING, AND MONITORING AN AC COUNT–BASED 8
745	745	BULK PROCESSING PROG RAM THAT: 9
746	746
747	747	1. ENSURES THAT THE PROG RAM WILL ACCURATELY 10
748	748	REFUND DEPOSITS AND MAINTAIN AND REPORT DATA FROM EACH TRANS ACTION; 11
749	749	AND 12
750	750
751	751	2. IDENTIFIES THE INFORM ATION THAT MUST BE 13
752	752	SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL OF THE PROGRAM . 14
753	753
754	754	(II) A PERSON THAT INTENDS TO PROVIDE AN ACCOUN T–BASED 15
755	755	BULK PROCESSING PROG RAM FOR THE REDEMPTI ON OF EMPTY REDEEMAB LE 16
756	756	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SHALL SUBMIT INFORMA TION IDENTIFIED UNDE R 17
757	757	SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRA PH TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL OF 18
758	758	THE PROGRAM . 19
759	759
760	760	(H) REFUNDS PROVIDED FOR AN EMPTY REDEEMED RE DEEMABLE 20
761	761	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S HALL BE: 21
762	762
763	763	(1) IN CASH; 22
764	764
765	765	(2) IN THE FORM OF A RECE IPT FROM A REVERSE V ENDING MACHINE 23
766	766	IF: 24
767	767
768	768	(I) THE RECEIPT CAN BE EX CHANGED FOR CASH WITHIN 60 25
769	769	DAYS AFTER THE RECEI PT IS ISSUED; AND 26
770	770
771	771	(II) THERE IS NO REQUIREME NT THAT OTHER GOODS BE 27
772	772	PURCHASED TO RECEIVE THE CASH REFUND ; OR 28
773	773
774	774	(3) CREDITED TO AN ACCOUN T BY THE RECEIVER OF THE EMPTY 29
775	775	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER SO THAT TH E CONSUMER CAN RECEIVE THE 30
776	776	REFUND OR A REFUND R ECEIPT WITHIN A SPEC IFIED NUMBER OF DAYS , AS 31 18 SENATE BILL 642
777	777
778	778
779	779	DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT , AFTER REDEEMING THE EMPTY REDEEMABLE 1
780	780	BEVERAGE CONTAINER . 2
781	781
782	782	(I) (1) A REDEMPTION FACILITY , RETAILER, OR OTHER PERSON THAT 3
783	783	ACCEPTS REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION SHALL BE 4
784	784	REIMBURSED BY A BEVE RAGE CONTAINER STEWA RDSHIP ORGANIZATION OR ITS 5
785	785	AGENT FOR THE HANDLI NG OF EACH EMPTY RED EEMABLE BEVERAGE CON TAINER 6
786	786	REDEEMED . 7
787	787
788	788	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SET A HANDLING FEE TO BE PAID 8
789	789	BY A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION OR ITS AGENT TO A 9
790	790	REDEMPTION FACILITY , RETAILER, OR OTHER PERSON THAT ACCEPTS EMPTY 10
791	791	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEM PTION. 11
792	792
793	793	(II) 1. THE HANDLING FEE SHAL L BE SET AT AN AMOUN T 12
794	794	THAT COVERS THE COST S OF COLLECTING, SORTING, PROCESSING, AND 13
795	795	TRANSPORTING EMPTY R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS FOR RECYCL ING, 14
796	796	REUSE, OR REFILLING. 15
797	797
798	798	2. THE DEPARTMENT MAY INCREA SE THE HANDLING 16
799	799	FEE IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES AN INCREASE IS NECES SARY TO ENCOURAGE 17
800	800	THE ESTABLISH MENT OF MORE REDEMPT ION FACILITIES. 18
801	801
802	802	(J) (1) AN ON–PREMISES SELLER THAT ACCEPTS EMPTY REDEEM ABLE 19
803	803	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION SHALL BE REIMBURSED BY A B EVERAGE 20
804	804	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION OR IT S AGENT FOR: 21
805	805
806	806	(I) THE REFUNDS PAID BY T HE ON–PREMISES SELLER FOR THE 22
807	807	EMPTY REDEEMED REDEE MABLE BEVERAGE CONTA INERS; AND 23
808	808
809	809	(II) THE HANDLING OF EACH EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE 24
810	810	CONTAINER REDEEMED . 25
811	811
812	812	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SET A MATERIAL HANDLING FEE 26
813	813	TO BE PAID BY A BEVE RAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION OR ITS 27
814	814	AGENT TO AN ON –PREMISES SELLER THAT ACCEPTS EMPTY REDEEM ABLE 28
815	815	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION . 29
816	816
817	817	(II) THE HANDLING FEE SHAL L BE SET AT AN AMOUN T THAT 30
818	818	COVERS THE COSTS OF TEMPORARY STORAGE , PRELIMINARY SORTING , AND 31
819	819	PREPARING EACH REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER R EDEEMED FOR 32
820	820	COLLECTION. 33
821	821	SENATE BILL 642 19
822	822
823	823
824	824	(3) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION OR ITS 1
825	825	AGENT SHALL PROVIDE TO AN ON–PREMISES SELLER : 2
826	826
827	827	(I) ANY RECEPTACLES OR BA GS REQUIRED FOR THE 3
828	828	PRELIMINARY SORTING OF REDEEMED RED EEMABLE BEVERAGE CON TAINERS BY 4
829	829	THE ON–PREMISES SELLER ; AND 5
830	830
831	831	(II) ANY LABELS NECESSARY FOR ATTRIBUTING THE 6
832	832	REDEEMED REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS TO THE ON–PREMISES SELLER . 7
833	833
834	834	(K) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR TH AT COLLECTS A DEPOSI T FROM A RETAILER , 8
835	835	REDEMPTION FACILITY, OR OTHER PERSON THAT ACCEPTS REDEEMABLE 9
836	836	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION SHALL ACCOUNT FOR ANY DEPO SITS IN 10
837	837	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–1739 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 11
838	838
839	839	(L) REDEEMED EMPTY REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS SHALL BE 12
840	840	COLLECTED FOR RETURN TO A BEVERAG E CONTAINER STEWARDS HIP 13
841	841	ORGANIZATION FOR SAL E AS SCRAP MATERIAL TO FINANCE THE PROGRAM. 14
842	842
843	843	9–1739. 15
844	844
845	845	(A) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR SH ALL DEPOSIT ANY DEPO SITS COLLECTED 16
846	846	UNDER § 9–1738 OF THIS SUBTITLE INT O A DEPOSIT COLLECTI ON ACCOUNT THAT IS 17
847	847	MAINTAINED SEPARATEL Y FROM ALL OTHER REVEN UES. 18
848	848
849	849	(B) THE FUNDS IN THE DEPO SIT COLLECTION ACCOU NT MAY BE USED ONLY 19
850	850	TO PAY THE REFUND VA LUE OF AN EMPTY REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINER 20
851	851	BEING REDEEMED . 21
852	852
853	853	(C) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR SH ALL REPORT TO A BEVE RAGE CONTAINER 22
854	854	STEWARDSHIP ORGANI ZATION, AT A FREQUENCY DETER MINED BY THE 23
855	855	DEPARTMENT , THE FOLLOWING INFORM ATION: 24
856	856
857	857	(1) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD 25
858	858	AND EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS REDEEMED SINCE THE L AST 26
859	859	REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARD SHIP 27
860	860	ORGANIZATION UNDER T HIS SUBSECTION ; 28
861	861
862	862	(2) THE FUNDS DEPOSITED I NTO THE DEPOSIT COLL ECTION 29
863	863	ACCOUNT AND THE REFU NDS ISSUED FROM THE DEPOSIT COLLECTION A CCOUNT 30
864	864	SINCE THE LAST REPOR T WAS SUBMITTED TO T HE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R 31
865	865	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION UNDER THIS SUBSECTION ; 32
866	866	20 SENATE BILL 642
867	867
868	868
869	869	(3) ANY INCOME EARNED ON THE FUNDS IN THE DEP OSIT 1
870	870	COLLECTION ACCOUNT S INCE THE LAST REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE 2
871	871	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION UNDER THIS SUBSE CTION; 3
872	872
873	873	(4) THE BALANCE OF THE DE POSIT COLLECTION ACC OUNT; AND 4
874	874
875	875	(5) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 5
876	876
877	877	(D) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETE RMINE THE POINT AT W HICH A 6
878	878	DEPOSIT BECOMES AN U NCLAIMED DEPOSIT . 7
879	879
880	880	(2) UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS AR E CALCULATED AS THE AMOUNT OF 8
881	881	FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO A DEPOSIT COLLECTIO N ACCOUNT THAT ARE I N EXCESS 9
882	882	OF THE SUM OF: 10
883	883
884	884	(I) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS ON THE DEPOSIT COLLE CTION 11
885	885	ACCOUNT DURING THE T IME FOR WHICH UNCLAI MED DEPOSITS ARE BEI NG 12
886	886	CALCULATED ; AND 13
887	887
888	888	(II) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF T HE REFUND VALUE RECE IVED FOR 14
889	889	THE EMPTY REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS REDEEMED DURING T HE TIME 15
890	890	FOR WHICH THE UNCLAI MED DEPOSITS ARE BEI NG CALCULATED . 16
891	891
892	892	(3) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR SH ALL TRANSFER ALL UNC LAIMED 17
893	893	DEPOSITS TO A BEVERA GE CONTAINER STEWARD SHIP ORGANIZATION AT A 18
894	894	FREQUENCY DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT. 19
895	895
896	896	(4) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION SHALL: 20
897	897
898	898	(I) ESTABLISH A RESERVE A CCOUNT TO MANAGE ALL 21
899	899	UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS ; AND 22
900	900
901	901	(II) TRANSFER 10% OF ALL UNCLAIMED DEP OSITS TO THE 23
902	902	DEPARTMENT WITH A FRE QUENCY DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 24
903	903
904	904	(5) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION SHALL 25
905	905	USE THE FUNDS IN THE RESERVE ACCOUNT ESTA BLISHED UNDER PARAGR APH (4) 26
906	906	OF THIS SUBSECTION T O: 27
907	907
908	908	(I) ACHIEVE THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY STATED 28
909	909	IN § 9–1734 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 29
910	910	SENATE BILL 642 21
911	911
912	912
913	913	(II) MEET OR EXCEED THE PERFOR MANCE TARGETS 1
914	914	ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 2
915	915
916	916	(6) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL TRAN SFER ANY UNCLAIMED 3
917	917	DEPOSITS RECEIVED UN DER THIS PARAGRAPH T O THE STATE RECYCLING TRUST 4
918	918	FUND UNDER § 9–1707(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5
919	919
920	920	(II) THE UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS TRAN SFERRED TO THE STATE 6
921	921	RECYCLING TRUST FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR THE COSTS OF ADM INISTERING 7
922	922	AND FINANCING THE GRANT PROGRAM UNDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 8
923	923
924	924	9–1740. 9
925	925
926	926	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THIS SECTION 10
927	927	APPLIES TO A PRODUCER TH AT SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE , OR DISTRIBUTES 11
928	928	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN THE STATE. 12
929	929
930	930	(2) (I) IF THE BEVERAGE CONTA INER IS SOLD UNDER T HE 13
931	931	PRODUCER’S OWN BRAND OR LACKS IDENTIFICATION OF A BRAND, THE PRODUCER 14
932	932	IS THE PERSON THAT M ANUFACTURES THE REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R. 15
933	933
934	934	(II) IF THE REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER IS 16
935	935	MANUFACTURED BY A PE RSON OTHER THAN THE BRAND OWNER , THE PRODUCER IS 17
936	936	THE PERSON THAT IS T HE LICENSEE OF A BRA ND OR TRADEMARK UNDE R WHICH A 18
937	937	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER IS SOLD , OFFERED FOR SALE , OR 19
938	938	DISTRIBUTED IN THE STATE, WHETHER OR NOT THE T RADEMARK IS REGISTER ED IN 20
939	939	THE STATE, UNLESS ANOTHER RESPO NSIBLE PERSON HAS CO NTRACTUALLY 21
940	940	ACCEPTED RESPONSIBIL ITY AS THE PRODUCER AND HAS JOINED A BEV ERAGE 22
941	941	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION AS TH E PRODUCER RESPONSIB LE FOR 23
942	942	THE REDEEMABLE BEVER AGE CONTAINER UNDER THIS SECTION. 24
943	943
944	944	(III) IF THERE IS NO PERSON DESCRIBED IN THIS PA RAGRAPH 25
945	945	OVER WHOM THE STATE CAN CONSTITUTIO NALLY EXERCISE JURIS DICTION, THE 26
946	946	PRODUCER IS THE PERS ON THAT IMPORTS OR DISTRIBUT ES THE REDEEMABLE 27
947	947	BEVERAGE CONTAINER I N THE STATE. 28
948	948
949	949	(3) IF ANOTHER PERSON CON TRACTUALLY ACCEPTS 29
950	950	RESPONSIBILITY AS A PRODUCER UNDER PARAG RAPH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 30
951	951	THE PRODUCER MUST PR OVIDE A CERTIFIED CO PY OF THE CONTRACTUA L 31
952	952	AGREEMENT TO THE RELE VANT BEVERAGE CONTAI NER STEWARDSHIP 32
953	953	ORGANIZATION . 33
954	954	22 SENATE BILL 642
955	955
956	956
957	957	(B) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2027, A PRODUCER MAY NOT S ELL, OFFER FOR 1
958	958	SALE, OR DISTRIBUTE IN OR IMPORT INTO THE STATE A REDEEMABLE BE VERAGE 2
959	959	CONTAINER UNLESS THE PRODUCER: 3
960	960
961	961	(1) IS REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDA NCE WITH 4
962	962	THIS SECTION; 5
963	963
964	964	(2) HAS PAID THE REGISTRA TION FEE UNDER SUBSE CTION (F) OF 6
965	965	THIS SECTION; AND 7
966	966
967	967	(3) IS PART OF A BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P 8
968	968	ORGANIZATION THAT : 9
969	969
970	970	(I) HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 10
971	971	9–1741 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; AND 11
972	972
973	973	(II) HAS A BEVERAGE CONTAI NER STEWARDSHIP PLAN 12
974	974	APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 13
975	975
976	976	(C) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2026, A BEVERAGE 14
977	977	CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION REPRESE NTING A PRODUCER SHA LL 15
978	978	PROVIDE TO THE DEPARTMENT : 16
979	979
980	980	(1) A LIST OF EACH PRODUCE R PARTICIPATING IN T HE BEVERAGE 17
981	981	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION ; AND 18
982	982
983	983	(2) FOR EACH PRODUCER , THE REGISTRATION FOR M REQUIRED 19
984	984	UNDER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION. 20
985	985
986	986	(D) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CREA TE A REGISTRATION FO RM THAT 21
987	987	REQUIRES EACH PRODUC ER PARTICIPATING IN THE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER 22
988	988	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION : 23
989	989
990	990	(I) THE NAME, PRIMARY BUSINESS ADD RESS, AND CONTACT 24
991	991	INFORMATION OF THE P ERSON RESPONSIBLE FO R ENSURING COMPLIANC E WITH 25
992	992	THIS PART; 26
993	993
994	994	(II) A LIST OF EACH BRAND O F REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 27
995	995	CONTAINERS THAT THE PRODUCER INTENDS TO SELL, OFFER FOR SALE , OR 28
996	996	DISTRIBUTE IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE SIZE A ND MATERIAL OF THE 29
997	997	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR EACH BRAND; 30
998	998	SENATE BILL 642 23
999	999
1000	1000
1001	1001	(III) FOR EACH REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINER SP ECIFIED 1
1002	1002	IN THE REGISTRATION , WHETHER THE REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R: 2
1003	1003
1004	1004	1. IS REFILLABLE; AND 3
1005	1005
1006	1006	2. DEPICTS A UPC OR MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC 4
1007	1007	BARCODE; 5
1008	1008
1009	1009	(IV) HOW EACH PRODUCER WIL L PREVENT THE FRAUDU LENT 6
1010	1010	SALE AND REDEMPTION OF REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE CONTAINERS THAT W ERE NOT 7
1011	1011	SOLD IN THE STATE; 8
1012	1012
1013	1013	(V) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS 9
1014	1014	EACH PRODUCER SOLD I N THE STATE IN THE IMMEDIAT ELY PRECEDING CALEND AR 10
1015	1015	YEAR; AND 11
1016	1016
1017	1017	(VI) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE 12
1018	1018	DEPARTMENT . 13
1019	1019
1020	1020	(2) A PRODUCER SHALL SUBMI T A COMPLETED REGIST RATION FORM 14
1021	1021	TO THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION THAT REPRESENTS 15
1022	1022	THE PRODUCER . 16
1023	1023
1024	1024	(E) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2026, AND WITH A FREQUENCY AS 17
1025	1025	DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT THEREAFTER , EACH PRODUCER SHALL PAY A 18
1026	1026	REGISTRATION FEE EST ABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SUBS ECTION (F) OF 19
1027	1027	THIS SECTION. 20
1028	1028
1029	1029	(F) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH AN ANNUAL REGI STRATION 21
1030	1030	FEE FOR PRODUCERS TH AT SELL REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINERS I N THE 22
1031	1031	STATE. 23
1032	1032
1033	1033	(2) THE REGISTRATION FEE SHALL BE SET IN A MA NNER THAT: 24
1034	1034
1035	1035	(I) WHEN TAKEN IN COMBINA TION WITH ANTICIPATE D 25
1036	1036	REVENUES FROM PENALT IES COLLECTED UNDER § 9–1750 OF THIS SUBTITLE, WILL 26
1037	1037	PRODUCE FUNDS SUFFIC IENT TO COVER THE DEPARTMENT ’S ESTIMATED COSTS OF 27
1038	1038	PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND 28
1039	1039	EVALUATING THE PROGRAM FOR THE UPCOM ING YEAR; 29
1040	1040
1041	1041	(II) FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM DURING WHICH 30
1042	1042	REGISTRATION FEES AR E COLLECTED, SHALL COVER THE STAR T–UP COSTS OF THE 31 24 SENATE BILL 642
1043	1043
1044	1044
1045	1045	PROGRAM THAT WERE INC URRED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND FINANC ED FROM THE 1
1046	1046	GENERAL FUND; AND 2
1047	1047
1048	1048	(III) IS PROPORTIONAL TO A PRODUCER’S SHARE OF THE TOTAL 3
1049	1049	NUMBER OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE FOR THE 4
1050	1050	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G CALENDAR YEAR . 5
1051	1051
1052	1052	(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 6
1053	1053
1054	1054	(I) IF THE REVENUES FROM THE REGISTRATION FEE S IN THE 7
1055	1055	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G YEAR EXCEED THE CO STS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH 8
1056	1056	(2)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION , CARRY THE EXCESS REV ENUES FORWARD TO RED UCE 9
1057	1057	REGISTRATION FEES TH E FOLLOWING YEAR ; AND 10
1058	1058
1059	1059	(II) IF THE REVENUES FROM THE REGISTRATION FEE S IN THE 11
1060	1060	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G YEAR DO NOT COVER THE COSTS SPECIFIED IN 12
1061	1061	PARAGRAPH (2)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION , ADJUST REGISTRATION FEES FOR THE 13
1062	1062	FOLLOWING YEAR TO AN AMOUNT THAT WILL COV ER THE DEPARTMENT ’S ACTUAL 14
1063	1063	COSTS FROM THE IMMED IATELY PRECEDING YEA R. 15
1064	1064
1065	1065	(4) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 16
1066	1066	PARAGRAPH , REGISTRATION FEES COLLECTE D UNDER THIS SUBSECT ION SHALL BE: 17
1067	1067
1068	1068	1. TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE RECYCLING TRUST 18
1069	1069	FUND UNDER § 9–1707(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 19
1070	1070
1071	1071	2. USED ONLY TO COVER TH E DEPARTMENT ’S COSTS OF 20
1072	1072	PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND 21
1073	1073	EVALUATING THE PROGRAM. 22
1074	1074
1075	1075	(II) THE PORTION OF THE RE GISTRATION FEES THAT COVERED 23
1076	1076	THE START–UP COSTS OF THE PROGRAM AND WERE FINA NCED FROM THE GENERAL 24
1077	1077	FUND DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM FOR WHICH REG ISTRATION FEES 25
1078	1078	ARE COLLECTED IN ACC ORDANCE WITH PARAGRA PH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECT ION 26
1079	1079	SHALL BE DEPOSITED I NTO THE GENERAL FUND. 27
1080	1080
1081	1081	9–1741. 28
1082	1082
1083	1083	(A) ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ACCE PT 29
1084	1084	APPLICATIONS FROM BE VERAGE CONTAINER STE WARDSHIP ORGANIZATIO NS TO 30
1085	1085	REPRESENT PRODUCERS IN FULFILLING THE RE QUIREMENTS OF THIS P ART. 31
1086	1086	SENATE BILL 642 25
1087	1087
1088	1088
1089	1089	(B) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2025, THE DEPARTMENT MAY APPROV E, 1
1090	1090	FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 10 YEARS, A SINGLE BEVERAGE CO NTAINER 2
1091	1091	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION AS A SYSTEM OPE RATOR FOR THE PROGRAM IF THE 3
1092	1092	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION DEMONSTRATES THA T IT 4
1093	1093	HAS: 5
1094	1094
1095	1095	(1) THE ABILITY, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT , TO 6
1096	1096	ADMINISTER THE REQUI REMENTS OF A BEVERAG E CONTAINER STEWARDS HIP PLAN 7
1097	1097	UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 8
1098	1098
1099	1099	(2) A GOVERNING BOARD CONS ISTING OF PRODUCERS THAT 9
1100	1100	REPRESENT THE DIVERS ITY OF APPLICABLE R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS 10
1101	1101	IN THE MARKET ; 11
1102	1102
1103	1103	(3) SET NO UNREASONABLE B ARRIERS TO JOINING T HE BEVERAGE 12
1104	1104	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION AND W ILL TAKE INTO CONSID ERATION 13
1105	1105	THE NEEDS OF SMALL P RODUCERS THAT DO NOT GENERATE A HIGH VOLU ME OF 14
1106	1106	CONTAINERS; 15
1107	1107
1108	1108	(4) ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RE SPONSIBILITY AND SAF EGUARDS, 16
1109	1109	INCLUDING FRAUD PREV ENTION MEASURES AND AN AUDIT SCHEDULE ; 17
1110	1110
1111	1111	(5) THE ABILITY TO SECURE THE CAPITAL NECESSAR Y FOR THE 18
1112	1112	INITIAL INVESTMENT I N INFRASTRUCTURE , SORTING EQUIPMENT , SOFTWARE, 19
1113	1113	TRANSPORTATION , AND OTHER START –UP EXPENSES; AND 20
1114	1114
1115	1115	(6) MET ANY OTHER REQUIRE MENTS SET BY THE DEPARTMENT . 21
1116	1116
1117	1117	(C) THE DEPARTMENT MAY RENEW THE APPROVAL OF A BE VERAGE 22
1118	1118	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION AS A SYSTEM OPERATOR UNDE R 23
1119	1119	SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION IF T HE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER STEWARDSHIP 24
1120	1120	ORGANIZATION CONTINU ES TO MEET THE REQUI REMENTS OF THIS SECT ION AND 25
1121	1121	ANY OTHER REQUIREMEN T SET BY THE DEPARTMENT . 26
1122	1122
1123	1123	(D) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVO KE THE APPROVAL OF A 27
1124	1124	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION AS A SYSTEM OPER ATOR IF 28
1125	1125	THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT THE BEVERAGE CO NTAINER STEWARDSHIP 29
1126	1126	ORGANIZATION : 30
1127	1127
1128	1128	(I) FAILED TO MEET THE RE QUIREMENTS OF THIS S ECTION; OR 31
1129	1129	26 SENATE BILL 642
1130	1130
1131	1131
1132	1132	(II) FAILED TO IMPLEMENT A ND ADMINISTER AN APP ROVED 1
1133	1133	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN IN A CCORDANCE WITH § 9–1742 OF 2
1134	1134	THIS SUBTITLE. 3
1135	1135
1136	1136	(2) IF THE DEPARTMENT REVOKES TH E APPROVAL OF A BEVE RAGE 4
1137	1137	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION AS A SYSTEM OPERATOR UNDE R 5
1138	1138	PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION : 6
1139	1139
1140	1140	(I) THE DEPARTMENT MAY APPROV E ONE OR MORE 7
1141	1141	ADDITIONAL BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANI ZATIONS TO CARRY OUT 8
1142	1142	THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP 9
1143	1143	ORGANIZATION THAT WA S REVOKED AS A SYSTE M OPERATOR , SUBJECT TO ONE OR 10
1144	1144	MORE OF THE ADDITION AL BEVERAGE CONTAINE R STEWARDSHIP ORGANI ZATIONS 11
1145	1145	MEETING THE REQUIR EMENTS SPECIFIED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION; AND 12
1146	1146
1147	1147	(II) THE TRUSTEE OR ESCROW AGENT OF THE TRUST F UND OR 13
1148	1148	ESCROW ACCOUNT ESTAB LISHED IN THE BEVERA GE CONTAINER STEWARD SHIP 14
1149	1149	PLAN UNDER § 9–1742(A)(3)(VI) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL: 15
1150	1150
1151	1151	1. RECEIVE ALL PAY MENTS DIRECTLY FROM 16
1152	1152	PRODUCERS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID TO TH E BEVERAGE CONTAINER 17
1153	1153	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION; 18
1154	1154
1155	1155	2. DEPOSIT THE PAYMENTS RECEIVED UNDER ITEM 1 OF 19
1156	1156	THIS ITEM INTO THE T RUST FUND OR ESCROW ACCOUNT; AND 20
1157	1157
1158	1158	3. MAKE PAYMENTS FROM TH E TRUST FUND OR ESCROW 21
1159	1159	ACCOUNT AS DIRECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEME NT THE REQUIREMENTS 22
1160	1160	OF THIS PART. 23
1161	1161
1162	1162	9–1742. 24
1163	1163
1164	1164	(A) (1) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2026, EACH BEVERAGE CONTAI NER 25
1165	1165	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION SHALL SUBMIT A BEVERAGE CONTAINER 26
1166	1166	STEWARDSHIP PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT . 27
1167	1167
1168	1168	(2) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN SHAL L: 28
1169	1169
1170	1170	(I) IDENTIFY AND INCLUDE THE CONTACT INFORMAT ION FOR 29
1171	1171	EACH PRODUCER INTEND ED TO BE COVERED UND ER THE PLAN; 30
1172	1172
1173	1173	(II) IDENTIFY EACH BRAND O F REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 31
1174	1174	CONTAINER INTENDED T O BE SOLD UNDER THE PLAN , INCLUDING THE SIZE A ND 32 SENATE BILL 642 27
1175	1175
1176	1176
1177	1177	MATERIAL OF THE REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINERS FOR EACH BRAN D AND 1
1178	1178	WHETHER THE REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS ARE REFILLABLE ; 2
1179	1179
1180	1180	(III) DESCRIBE: 3
1181	1181
1182	1182	1. THE FINANCING INFORMA TION SPECIFIED IN 4
1183	1183	PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION; 5
1184	1184
1185	1185	2. HOW THE PERFORMANCE T ARGETS WILL BE MET O R 6
1186	1186	EXCEEDED FOR THE 5–YEAR PERIOD FOLLOWIN G THE YEAR IN WHICH THE PLAN IS 7
1187	1187	APPROVED; 8
1188	1188
1189	1189	3. HOW STAKEHOLDER COMME NTS WERE CONSIDERED 9
1190	1190	AND REFLECTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE P LAN, INCLUDING THE ROLE OF 10
1191	1191	RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS , AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT S IN PLAN IMPLEMENTA TION; 11
1192	1192
1193	1193	4. THE ADMINISTRATION AN D IMPLEMENTATION OF 12
1194	1194	THE PLAN, INCLUDING ANY STAFFI NG THAT WILL BE NECE SSARY FOR THESE 13
1195	1195	PURPOSES; 14
1196	1196
1197	1197	5. THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND THAT 15
1198	1198	WILL BE TAKEN FOR PUBLIC OUT REACH, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION , 16
1199	1199	INCLUDING MESSAGING AND IDENTIFICATION O F TARGET AUDIENCES ; AND 17
1200	1200
1201	1201	6. THE ANTICIPATED INVES TMENTS THAT WILL BE 18
1202	1202	MADE TO IMPROVE THE REUSE OF BEVERAGE CO NTAINERS, INCLUDING THE 19
1203	1203	SOURCE OF FUNDING FO R THE INVESTMENTS ; 20
1204	1204
1205	1205	(IV) LIST THE STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTED IN DEVELOP ING THE 21
1206	1206	PLAN; 22
1207	1207
1208	1208	(V) PROVIDE THE ANTICIPAT ED COSTS OF IMPLEMEN TING THE 23
1209	1209	PLAN FOR 5 YEARS, BROKEN DOWN BY YEAR ; 24
1210	1210
1211	1211	(VI) INCLUDE A CLOSURE AND TRANSFER PLAN FOR HA NDLING 25
1212	1212	THE AFFAIRS OF TH E BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION THAT 26
1213	1213	ENSURES THAT EACH PR ODUCER INTENDED TO B E COVERED UNDER THE BEVERAGE 27
1214	1214	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN CAN FULFILL T HE PRODUCER ’S OBLIGATIONS IN 28
1215	1215	THE EVENT THAT THE B EVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON 29
1216	1216	DISSOLVES OR HAS ITS APP ROVAL AS A SYSTEM OP ERATOR REVOKED UNDER § 30
1217	1217	9–1741 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; AND 31
1218	1218	28 SENATE BILL 642
1219	1219
1220	1220
1221	1221	(VII) INCLUDE ANY OTHER INF ORMATION REQUESTED B Y THE 1
1222	1222	DEPARTMENT . 2
1223	1223
1224	1224	(3) THE FINANCING INFORMA TION INCLUDED IN A B EVERAGE 3
1225	1225	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN SHALL: 4
1226	1226
1227	1227	(I) EXPLAIN THE FINANCING FOR DIRECT INVESTMEN TS OR 5
1228	1228	REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WILL IMPROVE INFRAST RUCTURE IN A MANNER THAT 6
1229	1229	SUPPORTS REDEMPTION SERVICES AND TECHNOL OGIES; 7
1230	1230
1231	1231	(II) ESTABLISH A FEE STRUC TURE IN ACCORDANCE W ITH 8
1232	1232	PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION F OR PRODUCERS PARTICIPATI NG IN A 9
1233	1233	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION; 10
1234	1234
1235	1235	(III) DESCRIBE THE COSTS OF MEETING THE PERFORMA NCE 11
1236	1236	TARGETS; 12
1237	1237
1238	1238	(IV) DESCRIBE THE INCENTIV ES USED TO ENCOURAGE 13
1239	1239	PRODUCERS TO : 14
1240	1240
1241	1241	1. INVEST IN REUSABLE AN D REFILLABLE BEVERAG E 15
1242	1242	CONTAINER SYSTEMS ; AND 16
1243	1243
1244	1244	2. REDESIGN BEVERAGE CON TAINERS TO BE EASIER 17
1245	1245	AND LESS COSTLY TO R ECYCLE; 18
1246	1246
1247	1247	(V) CREATE INCENTIVES FOR PRODUCERS TO USE A 19
1248	1248	MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE TO REDUCE FR AUDULENT REDEMPTION ; 20
1249	1249
1250	1250	(VI) ESTABLISH A TRUST FUN D OR AN ESCROW ACCOUNT IN THE 21
1251	1251	STATE INTO WHICH A BE VERAGE CONTAINER STE WARDSHIP ORGANIZATIO N SHALL 22
1252	1252	DEPOSIT ALL UNEXPEND ED FUNDS FOR USE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION IN 23
1253	1253	THE EVENT THAT THE B EVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON 24
1254	1254	DISSOLVES OR HAS ITS APPROVAL AS A SYSTEM OPERATOR REVO KED BY THE 25
1255	1255	DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1741 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 26
1256	1256
1257	1257	(VII) MEET ANY OTHER REQUIR EMENTS ESTABLISHED B Y THE 27
1258	1258	DEPARTMENT . 28
1259	1259
1260	1260	(4) (I) THE FEE STRUCTURE REQ UIRED UNDER PARAGRAP H (3) OF 29
1261	1261	THIS SUBSECTION FOR PRODUCERS PARTICIPAT ING IN A BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER 30
1262	1262	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION SHALL BE: 31
1263	1263	SENATE BILL 642 29
1264	1264
1265	1265
1266	1266	1. SET IN A MANNER THAT COVERS THE COSTS OF 1
1267	1267	ADMINISTERING A BEVE RAGE CONTAINER STEWA RDSHIP ORGANIZATION AND 2
1268	1268	IMPLEMENTING THE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER STEW ARDSHIP PLAN ; AND 3
1269	1269
1270	1270	2. BASED ON: 4
1271	1271
1272	1272	A. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORTING , 5
1273	1273	COLLECTING, AND PROCESSING EACH TYPE OF REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE 6
1274	1274	CONTAINER MATERIAL ; 7
1275	1275
1276	1276	B. WHETHER A PRODUCER ’S REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 8
1277	1277	CONTAINERS ARE REFIL LABLE; 9
1278	1278
1279	1279	C. WHETHER A PRODUCER ’S EMPTY REDEEMABLE 10
1280	1280	BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS ARE EASY TO REC YCLE; 11
1281	1281
1282	1282	D. WHETHER A PRODUCER ’S REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 12
1283	1283	CONTAINERS HAVE A MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE; 13
1284	1284
1285	1285	E. A PRODUCER’S PORTION, BY MATERIAL TYPE , OF 14
1286	1286	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE DURING THE PREV IOUS 15
1287	1287	CALENDAR YEA R; AND 16
1288	1288
1289	1289	F. ANY OTHER FACTOR THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES 17
1290	1290	IS NECESSARY TO SUPP ORT THE PROGRAM. 18
1291	1291
1292	1292	(II) 1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 9–1741(D)(2) OF THIS 19
1293	1293	SUBTITLE, A PRODUCER PARTICIPA TING IN A BEVERAGE C ONTAINER STEWARDSHIP 20
1294	1294	ORGANIZATION SHALL P AY THE FEE ESTABLISHED UNDER PA RAGRAPH (3) OF THIS 21
1295	1295	SUBSECTION TO THE BE VERAGE CONTAINER STE WARDSHIP ORGANIZATIO N. 22
1296	1296
1297	1297	2. A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 23
1298	1298	ORGANIZATION SHALL D EPOSIT FEES RECEIVED UNDER THIS SUBPARAGR APH TO AN 24
1299	1299	ACCOUNT HELD BY THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON. 25
1300	1300
1301	1301	3. A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP 26
1302	1302	ORGANIZATION MAY USE THE FEES RECEIVED UN DER THIS SUBPARAGRAP H ONLY 27
1303	1303	FOR IMPLEMENTING THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN . 28
1304	1304
1305	1305	(5) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SUBM IT A BEVERAGE CONTAI NER 29
1306	1306	STEWARDSH IP PLAN TO AN INDEPE NDENT FINANCIAL AUDI TOR TO ENSURE THAT 30
1307	1307	THE FINANCING PROPOS ED IN THE PLAN WILL COVER THE COSTS OF I MPLEMENTING 31
1308	1308	THE PLAN. 32 30 SENATE BILL 642
1309	1309
1310	1310
1311	1311
1312	1312	(B) (1) (I) WITHIN 120 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT O F A BEVERAGE 1
1313	1313	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT UN DER THIS 2
1314	1314	SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL APPR OVE, APPROVE WITH CONDITI ONS, OR 3
1315	1315	DENY THE PLAN . 4
1316	1316
1317	1317	(II) IN DETERMINING WHETHE R TO APPROVE , APPROVE WITH 5
1318	1318	CONDITIONS, OR DENY A BEVERAGE C ONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN, THE 6
1319	1319	DEPARTMENT SHALL : 7
1320	1320
1321	1321	1. CONSIDER WHETHER : 8
1322	1322
1323	1323	A. THE PLAN COMPLIES WIT H THE REQUIREMENTS O F 9
1324	1324	THIS SECTION; AND 10
1325	1325
1326	1326	B. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT ENGAGEMENT WITH 11
1327	1327	STAKEHOLDERS , INCLUDING LOCAL GOVE RNMENTS, RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS , 12
1328	1328	AND ON–PREMISES SELLERS , IN DEVELOPING THE PL AN; AND 13
1329	1329
1330	1330	2. CONSULT WITH T HE ADVISORY COUNCIL. 14
1331	1331
1332	1332	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT MAY RESCIN D APPROVAL OF A 15
1333	1333	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN FOR GOOD CAUSE. 16
1334	1334
1335	1335	(II) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION 17
1336	1336	MAY AMEND A RESCINDE D BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN AND SUBMIT 18
1337	1337	THE AMENDED PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL. 19
1338	1338
1339	1339	(3) (I) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN APPR OVED 20
1340	1340	BY THE DEPARTMENT MAY BE AME NDED WITH APPROVAL O F THE DEPARTMENT . 21
1341	1341
1342	1342	(II) THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIR E THAT AN APPROVED 22
1343	1343	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN BE AMENDED IF T HE REPORT 23
1344	1344	SUBMITTED UNDER § 9–1743 OF THIS SUBTITLE REF LECTS THAT THE 24
1345	1345	PERFORMANCE TARGETS HAVE NOT BEEN MET . 25
1346	1346
1347	1347	(C) AN APPROVED BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN EXPIRES AT 26
1348	1348	THE END OF 5 YEARS. 27
1349	1349
1350	1350	(D) (1) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION SHALL 28
1351	1351	IMPLEMENT AND ADMINI STER A BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP PL AN 29
1352	1352	WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PLA N IS APPROVED. 30
1353	1353	SENATE BILL 642 31
1354	1354
1355	1355
1356	1356	(2) IN IMPLEMENTING AND A DMINISTERING A BEVER AGE CONTAINER 1
1357	1357	STEWARDSHIP PLAN , A BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION 2
1358	1358	SHALL: 3
1359	1359
1360	1360	(I) FACILITATE LOGISTICS , THE INITIATION OF DE POSITS, AND 4
1361	1361	THE ISSUANCE OF REFU NDS UNDER THE PLAN ; 5
1362	1362
1363	1363	(II) COORDINATE THE LOGIST ICS FOR COLLECTING 6
1364	1364	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FROM AN O N–PREMISES SELLER ; 7
1365	1365
1366	1366	(III) ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR TRACKIN G REDEEMABLE 8
1367	1367	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE; 9
1368	1368
1369	1369	(IV) DESIGN AND OPERATE SE RVICES FOR THE 10
1370	1370	TRANSPORTATION AND P ROCESSING OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS; 11
1371	1371
1372	1372	(V) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR ESTABLISH ING, 12
1373	1373	OPERATING, AND MANAGING REDEMPT ION FACILITIES THAT WILL OFF ER A WIDE 13
1374	1374	RANGE OF CONVENIENT REDEMPTION LOCATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES THA T ARE 14
1375	1375	EASY TO USE, ACCESSIBLE, AND MEET OR EXCEED T HE CONVENIENCE STAND ARDS 15
1376	1376	ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1747 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 16
1377	1377
1378	1378	(VI) DEVELOP AND IMPL EMENT A PLAN FOR THE DISTRIBUTION, 17
1379	1379	OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF B EVERAGE CONTAINER RE DEMPTION AND 18
1380	1380	PROCESSING METHODS , INCLUDING REVERSE VE NDING MACHINES , BAG DROP 19
1381	1381	PROGRAMS, AND ACCOUNT –BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAMS ; 20
1382	1382
1383	1383	(VII) DEVELOP ACCOUNTING AN D CONTROL STANDARDS ; 21
1384	1384
1385	1385	(VIII) IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTING , AUDIT, PAYMENT, AND 22
1386	1386	REPORTING PROCEDURES ; 23
1387	1387
1388	1388	(IX) ESTABLISH A HIGH –VOLUME VALIDATION AN D AUDIT 24
1389	1389	SYSTEM TO PAY A BULK RATE TO AN ON–PREMISES SELLER FOR THE REDEMPTION 25
1390	1390	OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 26
1391	1391
1392	1392	(X) ESTABLISH AN APPLICAT ION PROCESS FOR LARG E 27
1393	1393	ON–PREMISES SELLERS TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIV E A BULK RATE FOR TH E 28
1394	1394	REDEMPTION OF HIGH V OLUMES OF EMPTY REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINERS; 29
1395	1395
1396	1396	(XI) MARKET REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER MATE RIALS 30
1397	1397	FOR REUSE IN THE MANUFACTURING OF SIM ILAR PRODUCTS ; 31
1398	1398	32 SENATE BILL 642
1399	1399
1400	1400
1401	1401	(XII) FUND A MARKETING PROG RAM TO EDUCATE THE P UBLIC 1
1402	1402	ABOUT THE PROGRAM; 2
1403	1403
1404	1404	(XIII) ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FO R REPORTING KEY INFO RMATION 3
1405	1405	GATHERED BY THE PROGRAM TO THE DEPARTMENT ON A QUART ERLY BASIS; AND 4
1406	1406
1407	1407	(XIV) CREATE INCENTIVES FOR THE D EVELOPMENT OF 5
1408	1408	REFILLABLE AND REUSA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER SYSTEMS. 6
1409	1409
1410	1410	(3) ON REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT , A BEVERAGE CONTAINER 7
1411	1411	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION SHALL SUBMIT A COPY OF ITS FINANCIA L RECORDS 8
1412	1412	TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR A FINA NCIAL AUDIT. 9
1413	1413
1414	1414	9–1743. 10
1415	1415
1416	1416	(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO A BEVERAGE CONTAI NER STEWARDSHIP 11
1417	1417	ORGANIZATION THAT HA S A BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER STEWARDSHIP PLAN APPROVED 12
1418	1418	BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 13
1419	1419
1420	1420	(B) (1) ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2028, A 14
1421	1421	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION SHALL SUBMIT A R EPORT TO 15
1422	1422	THE DEPARTMENT ON THE PRO GRESS MADE IN THE PR ECEDING CALENDAR YEA R 16
1423	1423	TOWARD MEETING THE P ERFORMANCE TARGETS A ND THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM 17
1424	1424	AND THE BEVERAGE CON TAINER STEWARDSHIP O RGANIZATIO N’S BEVERAGE 18
1425	1425	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN. 19
1426	1426
1427	1427	(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE THE ADVISORY COUNCIL 20
1428	1428	WITH A COPY OF EACH REPORT SUBMITTED UND ER THIS SUBSECTION . 21
1429	1429
1430	1430	(C) THE REPORT SUBMITTED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION 22
1431	1431	SHALL INCLUDE , FOR THE PRECEDING C ALENDAR YEAR : 23
1432	1432
1433	1433	(1) THE PROGRESS MADE TOW ARD ACHIEVING THE PE RFORMANCE 24
1434	1434	TARGETS; 25
1435	1435
1436	1436	(2) IF THE PERFORMANCE TA RGETS WERE NOT ACHIE VED, A 26
1437	1437	DESCRIPTION OF THE A CTIONS PROPOSED TO A CHIEVE THE PERFORMAN CE 27
1438	1438	TARGETS; 28
1439	1439
1440	1440	(3) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN 29
1441	1441	THE STATE; 30
1442	1442	SENATE BILL 642 33
1443	1443
1444	1444
1445	1445	(4) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD IN 1
1446	1446	THE STATE SORTED BY MATER IAL TYPE, REFUND VALUE , AND WHETHER THE 2
1447	1447	CONTAINER CAN BE REF ILLED OR REUSED ; 3
1448	1448
1449	1449	(5) THE NUMBER OF EMPTY R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS 4
1450	1450	REDEEMED; 5
1451	1451
1452	1452	(6) THE NUMBER OF EMPTY R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS 6
1453	1453	REDEEMED AT EACH RED EMPTION FACILITY , REVERSE VENDING MACH INE, BAG 7
1454	1454	DROP PROGRAM , ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM , OR OTHER 8
1455	1455	BEVERAGE CONTAINER R EDEMPTION AND PROCES SING METHOD SORTED B Y 9
1456	1456	MATERIAL TYPE, REFUND VALUE , AND WHETHER THE EMPT Y REDEEMABLE 10
1457	1457	BEVERAGE CONTAINER C AN BE REFILLED OR RE USED; 11
1458	1458
1459	1459	(7) THE REDEMPTION RATE A ND RECYCLING RATE FO R 12
1460	1460	NONREFILLABLE REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS SOLD IN THE STATE 13
1461	1461	SORTED BY MATERIAL T YPE, NUMBER OF CON TAINERS SOLD , AND CONTAINER 14
1462	1462	WEIGHT; 15
1463	1463
1464	1464	(8) THE AMOUNT OF EACH TY PE OF: 16
1465	1465
1466	1466	(I) REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER MATERIAL 17
1467	1467	COLLECTED IN THE STATE; AND 18
1468	1468
1469	1469	(II) SCRAP MATERIAL SOLD B Y A BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER 19
1470	1470	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION; 20
1471	1471
1472	1472	(9) THE LOCATION OF EACH REDEMPTION FACILITY IN THE STATE 21
1473	1473	AND THE REDEMPTION M ETHOD USED AT EACH R EDEMPTION FACILITY ; 22
1474	1474
1475	1475	(10) A DESCRIPTION OF ANY I MPROVEMENTS MADE TO MAKE 23
1476	1476	RETURNING EMPTY REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINERS EASIER AND MO RE 24
1477	1477	CONVENIENT ; 25
1478	1478
1479	1479	(11) THE IDENTIFICATION AN D DESCRIPTION OF AREAS THAT DO NOT 26
1480	1480	HAVE READILY AVAILAB LE OPTIONS FOR REDEE MING AN EMPTY REDEEM ABLE 27
1481	1481	BEVERAGE CONTAINER A ND ACTIONS THE BEVER AGE CONTAINER STEWAR DSHIP 28
1482	1482	ORGANIZATION WILL TA KE TO IMPROVE OPTION S IN THESE AREAS; 29
1483	1483
1484	1484	(12) THE NUMBER OF CONSUME R COMPLAIN TS PER MONTH , SORTED 30
1485	1485	BY REDEMPTION FACILI TY; 31
1486	1486	34 SENATE BILL 642
1487	1487
1488	1488
1489	1489	(13) THE NUMBER OF INDIVID UALS AND ORGANIZATIO NS WITH 1
1490	1490	ACCOUNTS ESTABLISHED FOR THE RECEIPT OF E LECTRONIC DEPOSITS O R 2
1491	1491	REFUNDS; 3
1492	1492
1493	1493	(14) THE TOTAL COST OF IMP LEMENTING THE BEVERA GE CONTAINER 4
1494	1494	STEWARDSHIP PLAN , AS DETERMINED BY AN IND EPENDENT FINANCIAL A UDITOR 5
1495	1495	UNDER § 9–1742(A)(5) OF THIS SUBTITLE; 6
1496	1496
1497	1497	(15) THE AVERAGE COST OF P ROCESSING AN EMPTY R EDEEMED 7
1498	1498	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER; 8
1499	1499
1500	1500	(16) A COPY OF THE AUDIT CO NDUCTED UNDER § 9–1742(A)(5) OF 9
1501	1501	THIS SUBTITLE; 10
1502	1502
1503	1503	(17) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DETAILING ALL DEPOSI TS RECEIVED 11
1504	1504	AND REFUNDS ISSUED B Y EACH PRODUCER COVE RED UNDER THE BEVERA GE 12
1505	1505	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN; 13
1506	1506
1507	1507	(18) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF D EPOSITS INITIATED , REFUNDS ISSUED , 14
1508	1508	AND UNCLAIMED DEPOSI TS COLLECTED UNDER T HE BEVERAGE CONTAINER 15
1509	1509	STEWARDSHIP PLAN ; 16
1510	1510
1511	1511	(19) AN ACCOUNTING OF ALL ACTIVITIES AND INVES TMENTS 17
1512	1512	FINANCED BY UNCLAIME D DEPOSITS; 18
1513	1513
1514	1514	(20) EXPENDITURES AND REVE NUES SORTED BY SOURC E, INCLUDING 19
1515	1515	FEES PAID UNDER § 9–1742(A)(4) OF THIS SUBTITLE , REVENUE FROM THE SAL E OF 20
1516	1516	SCRAP MATERIALS , AND UNCLAIMED DEPOSI TS; 21
1517	1517
1518	1518	(21) SAMPLES OF ALL EDUCAT IONAL MATERIALS PROV IDED TO 22
1519	1519	CONSUMERS , RETAILERS, AND OTHER ENTITIES ; 23
1520	1520
1521	1521	(22) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENTS MADE IN NEW 24
1522	1522	REDEMPTION FACILITIE S AND REDEMPTION MET HODS; 25
1523	1523
1524	1524	(23) THE LOCATION OF NEW R EDEMPTION FACILITIES AND 26
1525	1525	REDEMPTION METHODS ; 27
1526	1526
1527	1527	(24) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CHANGES MADE BY P RODUCERS TO 28
1528	1528	INCREASE THE RECYCLA BILITY OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 29
1529	1529
1530	1530	(25) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ANY INCIDENTS OF FRAUD AND 30
1531	1531	EFFORTS TAKEN TO PREVEN T FRAUD; AND 31 SENATE BILL 642 35
1532	1532
1533	1533
1534	1534
1535	1535	(26) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 1
1536	1536
1537	1537	(D) THE FINANCIAL , PRODUCTION , AND SALES DATA OF IN DIVIDUAL 2
1538	1538	PRODUCERS REPORTED T O THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE 3
1539	1539	KEPT CONFIDENTIAL BY THE DEPARTMENT AN D THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. 4
1540	1540
1541	1541	(E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST THE REPORT SUBMITTED UNDER THIS 5
1542	1542	SECTION ON THE DEPARTMENT ’S WEBSITE IN A MANNE R THAT PROTECTS THE 6
1543	1543	CONFIDENTIALITY OF T HE DATA SPECIFIED UN DER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS 7
1544	1544	SECTION. 8
1545	1545
1546	1546	9–1744. 9
1547	1547
1548	1548	(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A PROCESS FOR A COUNTY OR 10
1549	1549	MUNICIPAL CORPORATIO N TO CREATE A REDEMP TION FACILITY. 11
1550	1550
1551	1551	(B) EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS REDE EMED AT A 12
1552	1552	REDEMPTION FACILITY MANAGED BY A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORA TION 13
1553	1553	SHALL BE CREDITED TO WARD MEETING THE RECYCLING RATES REQUIRED UNDER § 14
1554	1554	9–505 OF THIS TITLE. 15
1555	1555
1556	1556	(C) (1) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2029, A PORTION OF PROGRAM 16
1557	1557	REVENUES SHALL BE US ED TO COMPENSATE A C OUNTY OR MUNICIPAL 17
1558	1558	CORPORATION FOR ANY NET LOSS OF REVENUE TO THE COUNTY ’S OR MUNICIPAL 18
1559	1559	CORPORATION’S WASTE MANAGEMENT S YSTEM THAT CAN BE DO CUMENTED AND 19
1560	1560	ATTRIBUTED TO THE PROGRAM. 20
1561	1561
1562	1562	(2) IN DETERMINING A NET LOSS OF REVENUE , A COUNTY OR 21
1563	1563	MUNICIPAL CORPORATIO N SHALL CONSIDER : 22
1564	1564
1565	1565	(I) THE LOSS OF REVENUE F ROM THE SALE OF SCRA P 23
1566	1566	MATERIALS; 24
1567	1567
1568	1568	(II) FINANCIAL SAVINGS FROM A REDUCTION IN: 25
1569	1569
1570	1570	1. GLASS BOTTLES IN THE RECYCLING STREAM ; 26
1571	1571
1572	1572	2. TRANSPORTATION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH 27
1573	1573	CURBSIDE COLLECTION OF TRASH AND RECYCLI NG; 28
1574	1574
1575	1575	3. PROCESSING COSTS ASSO CIATED WITH RECYCLIN G 29
1576	1576	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 30 36 SENATE BILL 642
1577	1577
1578	1578
1579	1579
1580	1580	4. THE COSTS OF LANDFILLING AND INCINERATING 1
1581	1581	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT ARE NOT RECYCLE D; AND 2
1582	1582
1583	1583	5. THE COSTS OF LITTER C OLLECTION; AND 3
1584	1584
1585	1585	(III) FOR A COUNTY OR MUNIC IPAL CORPORATION THA T HAS A 4
1586	1586	TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD FOR TRASH IN A WATERWAY UNDER ITS 5
1587	1587	JURISDICTION, THE REDUCED COSTS AN D INCREASED BENEFITS OF COMPLYING 6
1588	1588	WITH THE TOTAL MAXIM UM DAILY LOAD DUE TO A REDUCTION IN BEVER AGE 7
1589	1589	CONTAINER LITTER . 8
1590	1590
1591	1591	9–1745. 9
1592	1592
1593	1593	FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL : 10
1594	1594
1595	1595	(1) INCLUDE: 11
1596	1596
1597	1597	(I) REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER STEWARDSHIP 12
1598	1598	ORGANIZATION FEES CO LLECTED UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 13
1599	1599
1600	1600	(II) REVENUE FROM THE SALE OF RAW MATERIALS ; 14
1601	1601
1602	1602	(III) UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS CO LLECTED UNDER § 9–1739 OF 15
1603	1603	THIS SUBTITLE; 16
1604	1604
1605	1605	(IV) REGISTRATION FEES COL LECTED UNDER § 9–1740 OF THIS 17
1606	1606	SUBTITLE; AND 18
1607	1607
1608	1608	(V) PENALTIES COLLECTED U NDER § 9–1750 OF THIS 19
1609	1609	SUBTITLE; AND 20
1610	1610
1611	1611	(2) BE USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH §§ 9–1707(F), 9–1739, 9–1740, 21
1612	1612	AND 9–1750 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 22
1613	1613
1614	1614	9–1746. 23
1615	1615
1616	1616	(A) THERE IS A BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND GRANT 24
1617	1617	PROGRAM. 25
1618	1618
1619	1619	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR 26
1620	1620	PROJECTS THAT : 27
1621	1621	SENATE BILL 642 37
1622	1622
1623	1623
1624	1624	(1) INCREASE THE REUSE AN D RECYCLING OF BEVER AGE 1
1625	1625	CONTAINERS IN THE STATE; 2
1626	1626
1627	1627	(2) INCREASE THE AVAILABI LITY OF PUBLIC WATER FOUNTAINS AND 3
1628	1628	REFILL STATIONS IN T HE STATE; AND 4
1629	1629
1630	1630	(3) REDUCE THE VOLUME OF LITTER FROM BEVERAGE CONTAINERS 5
1631	1631	IN THE STATE. 6
1632	1632
1633	1633	(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE GRANT PROGRAM. 7
1634	1634
1635	1635	(D) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE GRANT 8
1636	1636	PROGRAM SHALL BE FUND ED FROM A PORTION OF THE UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS 9
1637	1637	TRANSFERRED TO THE S EPARATE ACCOUNT ESTA BLISHED UNDER § 9–1707(F)(7) OF 10
1638	1638	THIS SUBTITLE. 11
1639	1639
1640	1640	(2) THE GRANT PROGRAM MAY AWARD UP TO $5,000,000 IN GRANTS 12
1641	1641	EACH YEAR FROM THE U NCLAIMED DEPOSITS TR ANSFERRED TO THE SEP ARATE 13
1642	1642	ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED UN DER § 9–1707(F)(7) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 14
1643	1643
1644	1644	(E) THE FOLLOWING ENTITIE S ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT UNDER THE 15
1645	1645	GRANT PROGRAM: 16
1646	1646
1647	1647	(1) A SCHOOL OR AN INSTITU TION OF HIGHER EDUCA TION; 17
1648	1648
1649	1649	(2) A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON; 18
1650	1650
1651	1651	(3) A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION; 19
1652	1652
1653	1653	(4) A FOR–PROFIT ORGANIZATION ; AND 20
1654	1654
1655	1655	(5) A PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP . 21
1656	1656
1657	1657	(F) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL, 22
1658	1658	SHALL ADOPT REGULATI ONS ESTABLISHING : 23
1659	1659
1660	1660	(1) AN APPLICATION PROCES S FOR AN ENTITY TO A PPLY FOR A 24
1661	1661	GRANT; 25
1662	1662
1663	1663	(2) THE CRITERIA FOR EVAL UATING AND AWARDING GRANTS; 26
1664	1664
1665	1665	(3) REPORTING AND EVALUAT ION REQUIREMENTS FOR A GRANT 27
1666	1666	AWARDED UNDER THIS S ECTION; AND 28 38 SENATE BILL 642
1667	1667
1668	1668
1669	1669
1670	1670	(4) ANY OTHER REQUIREMENT S THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES 1
1671	1671	ARE NECESSARY FOR AD MINISTERING AND IMPL EMENTING GRANTS AWARDED 2
1672	1672	UNDER THE GRANT PROGRAM. 3
1673	1673
1674	1674	(G) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BEGI N AWARDING GRANTS ON OR BEFORE 4
1675	1675	JANUARY 1, 2028. 5
1676	1676
1677	1677	9–1747. 6
1678	1678
1679	1679	IN ADDITION TO THE DU TIES AND REQUIREMENT S SPECIFIED IN THIS PART, 7
1680	1680	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 8
1681	1681
1682	1682	(1) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL: 9
1683	1683
1684	1684	(I) ESTABLISH CONVENIENCE STANDARDS FOR THE CO VERAGE 10
1685	1685	AND AVAILABILITY OF REDEMPTION OPTIONS A CROSS THE STATE; AND 11
1686	1686
1687	1687	(II) ENSURE THE CONVENIENC E STANDARDS PROVIDE 12
1688	1688	ACCESSIBLE REDEMPTIO N OPTIONS FOR DIFFER ENTLY ABLED PEOPLE A ND PEOPLE 13
1689	1689	WHO LIVE IN RURAL AREAS OR LOW –INCOME COMMUNITIES O F COLOR; AND 14
1690	1690
1691	1691	(2) ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FO R LARGE ON –PREMISES SELLERS TO 15
1692	1692	VERIFY THE SOURCE OF THE HIGH VOLUMES OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 16
1693	1693	CONTAINERS REDEEMED BY THE ON–PREMISES SELLER . 17
1694	1694
1695	1695	9–1748. 18
1696	1696
1697	1697	(A) THERE IS A REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING 19
1698	1698	REFUND ADVISORY COUNCIL. 20
1699	1699
1700	1700	(B) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL CONSISTS OF T HE FOLLOWING MEMBERS , 21
1701	1701	DESIGNATED BY THE SECRETARY: 22
1702	1702
1703	1703	(1) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG RECYCLING PROCESS ORS; 23
1704	1704
1705	1705	(2) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 24
1706	1706	RESPONSIBLE FOR RECY CLING PROGRAMS ; 25
1707	1707
1708	1708	(3) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG GLASS MANUFACTURE RS OR A 26
1709	1709	GLASS MANUFACTURING TRADE ORGANIZATION ; 27
1710	1710	SENATE BILL 642 39
1711	1711
1712	1712
1713	1713	(4) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG ALUMINUM MANUFACT URERS OR 1
1714	1714	AN ALUMINUM MANUFACT URING TRADE ORGANIZA TION; 2
1715	1715
1716	1716	(5) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTING P LASTIC MANUFACTURERS OR A 3
1717	1717	PLASTIC MANUFACTURIN G TRADE ORGANIZATION ; 4
1718	1718
1719	1719	(6) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG BEVERAGE COMPANIE S; 5
1720	1720
1721	1721	(7) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG PURCHASERS OF REC YCLED 6
1722	1722	CONTENT; 7
1723	1723
1724	1724	(8) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG RETAILERS; 8
1725	1725
1726	1726	(9) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG RESTAURANTS OR OT HER 9
1727	1727	ON–PREMISES SELLERS ; 10
1728	1728
1729	1729	(10) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG REVERSE VENDING M ACHINE 11
1730	1730	BUSINESSES; 12
1731	1731
1732	1732	(11) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG ACCOUNT –BASED BULK 13
1733	1733	PROCESSORS ; 14
1734	1734
1735	1735	(12) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG BUSINESSES INVOLV ED IN REUSE 15
1736	1736	AND REFILL SYSTEMS ; 16
1737	1737
1738	1738	(13) AT LEAST ONE MEMBER R EPRESENTING AN ENVIR ONMENTAL 17
1739	1739	ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIO N; 18
1740	1740
1741	1741	(14) AT LEAST ONE MEMBER R EPRESENTING AN ENVIR ONMENTAL 19
1742	1742	JUSTICE ADVOCACY ORG ANIZATION; AND 20
1743	1743
1744	1744	(15) AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF T HE GENERA L 21
1745	1745	PUBLIC AND RESIDE IN THE STATE. 22
1746	1746
1747	1747	(C) THE SECRETARY SHALL DESIG NATE TWO COCHAIRS FR OM AMONG THE 23
1748	1748	MEMBERSHIP OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. 24
1749	1749
1750	1750	(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF FOR THE ADVISORY 25
1751	1751	COUNCIL. 26
1752	1752
1753	1753	(E) A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL: 27
1754	1754	40 SENATE BILL 642
1755	1755
1756	1756
1757	1757	(1) MAY NOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 1
1758	1758	ADVISORY COUNCIL; BUT 2
1759	1759
1760	1760	(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 3
1761	1761	STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 4
1762	1762
1763	1763	(F) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL MEET : 5
1764	1764
1765	1765	(1) AT LEAST QUARTERLY E ACH YEAR; AND 6
1766	1766
1767	1767	(2) AS REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 7
1768	1768
1769	1769	(G) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL: 8
1770	1770
1771	1771	(1) ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON DETERMI NING WHETHER TO 9
1772	1772	APPROVE A BEVERAGE C ONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN; 10
1773	1773
1774	1774	(2) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT ON THE 11
1775	1775	IMPLEMENTATION OF APPROVED BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLANS; 12
1776	1776
1777	1777	(3) REVIEW AND ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON THE ANN UAL 13
1778	1778	REPORTS SUBMITTED UN DER § 9–1743 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 14
1779	1779
1780	1780	(4) ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON THE IMP LEMENTATION , 15
1781	1781	ADMINISTRATION , AND PERFORMANCE OF T HE PROGRAM. 16
1782	1782
1783	1783	9–1749. 17
1784	1784
1785	1785	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1, 2025, 18
1786	1786	TO CARRY OUT THIS PA RT. 19
1787	1787
1788	1788	9–1750. 20
1789	1789
1790	1790	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (C) AND (D) OF THIS SECTION , 21
1791	1791	THE PROVISIONS OF §§ 9–334 THROUGH 9–344 OF THIS TITLE APPLY TO ENFORCE 22
1792	1792	VIOLATIONS OF THIS P ART. 23
1793	1793
1794	1794	(B) A PENALTY MAY NOT BE I MPOSED ON A PRODUCER FOR FAILING TO 24
1795	1795	PROPERLY REGISTER WI TH THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1740 OF THIS SUBTITLE , 25
1796	1796	INCLUDING FAILING TO IDENTIFY EACH BRAND OF REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 26
1797	1797	CONTAINER THAT THE P RODUCER INT ENDS TO SELL , OFFER FOR SALE , OR 27
1798	1798	DISTRIBUTE IN THE STATE, UNLESS: 28
1799	1799	SENATE BILL 642 41
1800	1800
1801	1801
1802	1802	(1) THE DEPARTMENT FIRST ISSU ES A WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE 1
1803	1803	VIOLATION TO THE PRO DUCER; AND 2
1804	1804
1805	1805	(2) THE PRODUCER DOES NOT REGISTER WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER 3
1806	1806	RECEIVING THE WRITTE N NOTICE. 4
1807	1807
1808	1808	(C) (1) A PERSON MAY NOT REDEE M, ATTEMPT TO REDEEM , RECEIVE, 5
1809	1809	STORE, TRANSPORT, DISTRIBUTE, OR OTHERWISE FACILIT ATE OR AID IN THE 6
1810	1810	REDEMPTION OF THE FO LLOWING MATERIALS WI TH AN INTENT TO DEFR AUD: 7
1811	1811
1812	1812	(I) AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINER TH AT WAS 8
1813	1813	SOLD IN ANOTHER STATE; 9
1814	1814
1815	1815	(II) AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINER TH AT WAS 10
1816	1816	REJECTED FOR REDEMPT ION; 11
1817	1817
1818	1818	(III) LINE BREAKAGE ; 12
1819	1819
1820	1820	(IV) A PREVIOUSLY REDEEMED REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 13
1821	1821	CONTAINER; OR 14
1822	1822
1823	1823	(V) ANOTHER INELIGIBLE MA TERIAL. 15
1824	1824
1825	1825	(2) A PERSON MAY NOT DISPO SE OF A RE DEEMED REDEEMABLE 16
1826	1826	BEVERAGE CONTAINER I N A LANDFILL OR AN I NCINERATOR . 17
1827	1827
1828	1828	(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH ADMINISTRATIVE 18
1829	1829	PENALTIES FOR A VIOL ATION OF THIS SUBSEC TION THAT ARE BASED ON THE 19
1830	1830	NUMBER OF BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS AND REFUND AMOUNTS INVOLVED . 20
1831	1831
1832	1832	(D) (1) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2030, A PRODUCER OR BEVERA GE 21
1833	1833	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION THAT HAS NOT REACHED THE 22
1834	1834	REDEMPTION RATES EST ABLISHED IN § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE FOR THE 23
1835	1835	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G 2 YEARS IS SUBJECT TO AN ADMINISTRATIVE PE NALTY. 24
1836	1836
1837	1837	(2) EACH YEAR THAT A PROD UCER OR BEVERAGE CON TAINER 25
1838	1838	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION DOES NOT MEET T HE REDEMPTION RATES 26
1839	1839	ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE IS A SEPARATE VIOLATION UNDER THIS 27
1840	1840	SUBSECTION. 28
1841	1841
1842	1842	(3) AN ADMINISTRATIVE PEN ALTY ASSESSED UNDER THIS 29
1843	1843	SUBSECTION SHALL EQUAL TH E TOTAL NUMBER OF RE DEEMABLE BEVERAGE 30
1844	1844	CONTAINERS NEEDED TO BE REDEEMED TO MEET THE REDEMPTION RATES 31 42 SENATE BILL 642
1845	1845
1846	1846
1847	1847	ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1736 OF THIS SUBTITLE, MINUS THE NUMBER OF REDEEMABLE 1
1848	1848	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ACTUALLY REDEEMED , MULTIPLIED BY 10 CENTS. 2
1849	1849
1850	1850	(E) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ALTER THE ADMINISTRATIVE P ENALTIES 3
1851	1851	ASSESSED UNDER SUBSE CTIONS (C) AND (D) OF THIS SECTION AS N ECESSARY TO 4
1852	1852	ENSURE THAT THE PENA LTY AMOUNTS ASSESSED EXCEED THE COSTS OF 5
1853	1853	COMPLYING WITH THIS PART. 6
1854	1854
1855	1855	(F) PENALTIES COLLECTED U NDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE : 7
1856	1856
1857	1857	(1) TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE RECYCLING TRUST FUND UNDER § 8
1858	1858	9–1707(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 9
1859	1859
1860	1860	(2) USED ONLY TO COVER TH E DEPARTMENT ’S COSTS OF PLANNING, 10
1861	1861	IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND EVALUATING 11
1862	1862	THE PROGRAM. 12
1863	1863
1864	1864	9–1751. 13
1865	1865
1866	1866	A PRODUCER OR BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION 14
1867	1867	PARTICIPATING IN A B EVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP PLAN IN AC CORDANCE 15
1868	1868	WITH THIS SUBTITLE I S IMMUNE FROM LIABIL ITY UNDER STATE LAWS CONCERNING 16
1869	1869	ANTITRUST AND RESTRA INT OF TRADE FOR COO PERATIVE ACTIVITIES ASSOCIA TED 17
1870	1870	WITH THE COLLECTION , TRANSPORT, PROCESSING, RECYCLING, REUSE, AND 18
1871	1871	MANAGEMENT OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS. 19
1872	1872
1873	1873	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 20
1874	1874	1, 2024. 21
1875	1875
1876	1876