Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB346 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	sb0346
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 346
8	8	M3 5lr1374
9	9	SB 642/24 – EEE CF HB 232
10	10	By: Senators Brooks, Gile, M. Washington, Kagan, Ellis, Muse, Rosapepe, Smith,
11	11	Lewis Young, Hettleman, and Benson
12	12	Introduced and read first time: January 16, 2025
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	Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and Litter Reduction Program 2
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling Refund and 3
22	22	Litter Reduction Program to increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers 4
23	23	and reduce the litter, pollution, and costs associated with beverage containers; 5
24	24	altering the duties of the Office of Recycling; altering the contents and use of the 6
25	25	State Recycling Trust Fund; requiring the Comptroller to establish a separate 7
26	26	account within the Fund; requiring that each redeemable beverage container sold in 8
27	27	the State depict certain information beginning on a certain date; requiring the 9
28	28	wholesale price and retail price of a full redeemable beverage container to include 10
29	29	the refund value of the container, subject to a certain exception, beginning on a 11
30	30	certain date; requiring a retailer to include certain information on a customer’s sales 12
31	31	receipt; establishing a framework for the redemption of redeemable beverage 13
32	32	containers sold in the State; requiring a producer to provide a certified copy of a 14
33	33	certain contractual agreement to a certain beverage container stewardship 15
34	34	organization; prohibiting a producer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing in 16
35	35	or importing into the State a redeemable beverage container unless the producer is 17
36	36	registered with the Department of the Environment, pays a certain fee, and is part 18
37	37	of the beverage container stewardship organization; establishing a framework for 19
38	38	the beverage container stewardship organization to represent producers in fulfilling 20
39	39	the requirements of this Act; requiring the beverage container stewardship 21
40	40	organization to submit a certain beverage container stewardship plan to the 22
41	41	Department for approval; requiring the beverage container stewardship 23
42	42	organization to implement and administer the beverage container stewardship plan 24
43	43	within a certain time after the plan is approved; requiring the Department to 25
44	44	establish a process for a county or municipal corporation to create a redemption 26
45	45	facility; authorizing redeemable beverage containers redeemed at a redemption 27
46	46	facility managed by a county or municipal corporation to be credited toward meeting 28
47	47	certain recycling rates; establishing the Beverage Container Recycling Refund Grant 29
48	48	Program to evaluate the investments and policies necessary to achieve a certain 30 2 SENATE BILL 346
49	49
50	50
51	51	performance target, increase the reuse and recycling of beverage containers in the 1
52	52	State, increase the availability of public water fountains and refill stations in the 2
53	53	State, and reduce the volume of litter from beverage containers in the State; 3
54	54	establishing the Redeemable Beverage Container Recycling Refund Advisory 4
55	55	Council to review certain reports, make certain recommendations, and advise the 5
56	56	Department on certain matters; providing immunity from liability to a certain 6
57	57	person under certain circumstances; and generally relating to the Maryland 7
58	58	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 2024 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 2024 Supplement) 18
71	71
72	72	BY adding to 19
73	73	Article – Environment 20
74	74	Section 9–1737 through 9–1755 to be under the new part “Part VI. 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 2024 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 346 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; 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) Review and approve plans and annual reports, including the paint 13
118	118	stewardship assessment, submitted in accordance with a Paint Stewardship Program 14
119	119	established under Part V of this subtitle; AND 15
120	120
121	121	(7) ADMINISTER THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 16
122	122	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 17
123	123	9–1739 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 18
124	124
125	125	9–1707. 19
126	126
127	127	(f) (1) There is a State Recycling Trust Fund. 20
128	128
129	129	(2) The Fund shall consist of: 21
130	130
131	131	(i) The newsprint recycling incentive fee; 22
132	132
133	133	(ii) The telephone directory recycling incentive fee collected under § 23
134	134	9–1709 of this subtitle; 24
135	135
136	136	(iii) The covered electronic device manufacturer registration fee 25
137	137	collected under § 9–1728 of this subtitle; 26
138	138
139	139	(iv) The Paint Stewardship Program plan and annual report review 27
140	140	fees collected under § 9–1733(b) and (h) of this subtitle; 28
141	141
142	142	(V) UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS , FEES, AND PENALTIES 29
143	143	TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND UNDER §§ 9–1743, 9–1744, AND 9–1754 OF THIS 30
144	144	SUBTITLE; 31
145	145	4 SENATE BILL 346
146	146
147	147
148	148	[(v)] (VI) All fines and penalties collected under this subtitle; 1
149	149
150	150	[(vi)] (VII) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and 2
151	151
152	152	[(vii)] (VIII) Any other money from any other source accepted for the 3
153	153	benefit of the Fund. 4
154	154
155	155	(3) The Secretary shall administer the Fund. 5
156	156
157	157	(4) The Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately and the Comptroller shall 6
158	158	account for the Fund. 7
159	159
160	160	(5) (I) [At] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 8
161	161	PARAGRAPH , AT the end of each fiscal year, any unspent or unencumbered balance in the 9
162	162	Fund that exceeds $2,000,000 shall revert to the General Fund of the State in accordance 10
163	163	with § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. 11
164	164
165	165	(II) THE FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO THE FUND UNDER 12
166	166	PARAGRAPH (2)(V) OF THIS SUBSECTION A RE NOT SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE 13
167	167	STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE AND MAY NOT R EVERT TO THE 14
168	168	GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 15
169	169
170	170	(6) In accordance with the State budget, the Fund shall be used only: 16
171	171
172	172	(i) To provide grants to the counties to be used by the counties to 17
173	173	develop and implement local recycling plans; 18
174	174
175	175	(ii) To provide grants to counties that have addressed methods for 19
176	176	the separate collection and recycling of covered electronic devices in accordance with § 20
177	177	9–1703(c)(1) of this subtitle; 21
178	178
179	179	(iii) To provide grants to municipalities to be used by the 22
180	180	municipalities to implement local covered electronic device recycling programs; 23
181	181
182	182	(iv) To cover the costs of the Paint Stewardship Program plan review 24
183	183	under § 9–1733(b) of this subtitle, the annual report review under § 9–1733(h) of this 25
184	184	subtitle, and associated costs for Program compliance oversight; [and] 26
185	185
186	186	(V) TO COVER THE COSTS OF ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , 27
187	187	EVALUATING, AND ENFORCING THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 28
188	188	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 29
189	189	9–1739 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; AND 30
190	190
191	191	[(v)] (VI) To carry out the purposes of the land management 31
192	192	administration. 32
193	193	SENATE BILL 346 5
194	194
195	195
196	196	(7) (I) THE COMPTROLLER SHALL EST ABLISH A SEPARATE 1
197	197	ACCOUNT WITHIN THE FUND. 2
198	198
199	199	(II) THE ACCOUNT SHALL CON SIST OF THE FUNDS SP ECIFIED IN 3
200	200	PARAGRAPH (2)(V) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 4
201	201
202	202	(III) THE ACCOUNT MAY BE US ED ONLY TO: 5
203	203
204	204	1. COVER THE COSTS OF AD MINISTERING, MONITORING , 6
205	205	EVALUATING, AND ENFORCING THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 7
206	206	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 8
207	207	9–1739 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 9
208	208
209	209	2. FUND THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING 10
210	210	REFUND GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 9–1750 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 11
211	211
212	212	3. COMPENSATE LOCAL GOVE RNMENTS IN 12
213	213	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–1748 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 13
214	214
215	215	4. MEET OR EXCEED THE PE RFORMANCE TARGETS 14
216	216	ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9–1740 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 15
217	217
218	218	[(7)] (8) (i) The Treasurer shall invest the money in the Fund in the 16
219	219	same manner as other State money may be invested. 17
220	220
221	221	(ii) Any investment earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the 18
222	222	General Fund of the State. 19
223	223
224	224	9–1735. RESERVED. 20
225	225
226	226	9–1736. RESERVED. 21
227	227
228	228	PART VI. MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER 22
229	229	REDUCTION PROGRAM. 23
230	230
231	231	9–1737. 24
232	232
233	233	(A) IN THIS PART THE FOLL OWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 25
234	234	INDICATED. 26
235	235
236	236	(B) (1) “ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM ” MEANS A 27
237	237	PROGRAM THAT: 28
238	238
239	239	(I) UTILIZES A SYSTEM OF CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS AN D A 29 6 SENATE BILL 346
240	240
241	241
242	242	MECHANISM TO ASSOCIA TE REDEEMED REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS WITH 1
243	243	THE APPROPRIATE CUST OMER ACCOUNT ; 2
244	244
245	245	(II) CONSOLIDATES THE REDE EMED REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE 3
246	246	CONTAINERS FOR BULK SORTING WHILE COLLE CTING DATA ABOUT THE 4
247	247	CONTAINERS; 5
248	248
249	249	(III) FULLY PREPARES REDEEM ED REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 6
250	250	CONTAINERS FOR SALE TO RECYCLERS ; AND 7
251	251
252	252	(IV) COLLECTS DATA TO SUPP ORT AN ACCOUNTING OF THE 8
253	253	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS, INCLUDING THE DEPOSI TS, FEES, AND 9
254	254	POUNDS OF MATERIAL PRODUCED TH AT ARE ASSOCIATED WI TH THE REDEEMABLE 10
255	255	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS . 11
256	256
257	257	(2) “ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM ” INCLUDES A 12
258	258	BAG DROP PROGRAM IF THE BAG DROP PROGRAM IS A COMPONENT OF TH E 13
259	259	ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM. 14
260	260
261	261	(C) “ADVISORY COUNCIL” MEANS THE REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 15
262	262	CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND ADVISORY COUNCIL ESTABLISHED U NDER § 16
263	263	9–1752 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 17
264	264
265	265	(D) “BAG DROP PROGRAM ” MEANS A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS A CUSTOMER 18
266	266	TO: 19
267	267
268	268	(1) DROP OFF EMPTY REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS IN A BAG 20
269	269	OR OTHER RECEPTACLE AT ONE OR MORE LOCAT IONS FOR A REFUND ; AND 21
270	270
271	271	(2) HAVE THE CORRESPONDIN G REFUND PLACED INTO AN ACCOUNT 22
272	272	HELD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE CUSTOMER IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWS T HE 23
273	273	CUSTOMER TO OBTAIN T HE REFUND OR REFUND RECEIPT WITHIN A SPECIFIED 24
274	274	NUMBER OF DAYS AFTER THE DROP–OFF. 25
275	275
276	276	(E) (1) “BEVERAGE” MEANS ANY DRINKABLE LIQUID INTENDED FOR 26
277	277	HUMAN ORAL CONSUMPTI ON. 27
278	278
279	279	(2) “BEVERAGE” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 28
280	280
281	281	(I) DRUGS REGULATED UNDER THE FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, 29
282	282	AND COSMETIC ACT; AND 30
283	283
284	284	(II) INFANT FORMULA . 31 SENATE BILL 346 7
285	285
286	286
287	287
288	288	(F) (1) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ” MEANS A BOTTLE , CAN, OR OTHER 1
289	289	CONTAINER THAT : 2
290	290
291	291	(I) HAS BEEN SEALED BY A MANUFACTURER ; 3
292	292
293	293	(II) IS MADE OF GLASS , METAL, OR PLASTIC; AND 4
294	294
295	295	(III) AT THE TIME OF SALE , CONTAINS 3 LITERS OR LESS OF A 5
296	296	BEVERAGE. 6
297	297
298	298	(2) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 7
299	299
300	300	(I) A CARTON; 8
301	301
302	302	(II) A POUCH; OR 9
303	303
304	304	(III) ASEPTIC PACKAGING . 10
305	305
306	306	(G) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER RE DEMPTION AND PROCESS ING METHOD ” 11
307	307	MEANS A MANUAL OR TE CHNOLOGICAL METHOD F OR PROPERLY COLLECTI NG, 12
308	308	IDENTIFYING, COUNTING, OR PROCESSING EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 13
309	309	CONTAINERS FOR REDEM PTION. 14
310	310
311	311	(H) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON” MEANS A 15
312	312	NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON THAT IS: 16
313	313
314	314	(1) EXEMPT FROM TAXATION UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL 17
315	315	REVENUE CODE; 18
316	316
317	317	(2) CREATED BY PRODUCERS TO IMPLEMENT A BEVER AGE 19
318	318	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN; AND 20
319	319
320	320	(3) APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDA NCE WITH § 9–1745 21
321	321	OF THIS SUBTITLE. 22
322	322
323	323	(I) “BEVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP PLAN ” MEANS A PLAN 23
324	324	SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 24
325	325
326	326	(J) “DEPOSIT INITIATOR ” MEANS THE FIRST DIST RIBUTOR TO COLLECT A 25
327	327	DEPOSIT ON A BEVERAG E CONTAINER SOLD IN THE STATE. 26
328	328
329	329	(K) (1) “DISTRIBUTOR” MEANS A PERSON THAT SELLS BEVERAGES IN 27
330	330	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS TO A RETA ILER IN THE STATE. 28 8 SENATE BILL 346
331	331
332	332
333	333
334	334	(2) “DISTRIBUTOR” INCLUDES A PERSON TH AT MANUFACTURES AND 1
335	335	SELLS BEVERAGES IN R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS TO A RETAI LER IN THE 2
336	336	STATE. 3
337	337
338	338	(3) “DISTRIBUTOR” DOES NOT INCLUDE AIR LINES OR SHIPPING 4
339	339	COMPANIES THAT TRANS PORT REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS . 5
340	340
341	341	(L) “GRANT PROGRAM” MEANS THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING 6
342	342	REFUND GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 9–1750 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 7
343	343
344	344	(M) “LINE BREAKAGE ” MEANS A BEVERAGE CON TAINER THAT: 8
345	345
346	346	(1) BECOMES DEFECTIVE OR DAMAGED DURING MANUF ACTURING; 9
347	347
348	348	(2) IS NOT INTENDED TO BE SOLD ; AND 10
349	349
350	350	(3) IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR R EDEMPTION. 11
351	351
352	352	(N) “MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE” MEANS A UNIVERSAL PR ODUCT 12
353	353	CODE THAT IS: 13
354	354
355	355	(1) UNIQUE TO BEVERAGE CO NTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE; AND 14
356	356
357	357	(2) USED TO DETER FRAUD A ND ENSURE THE LEGITI MATE 15
358	358	REDEMPTION OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS. 16
359	359
360	360	(O) (1) “ON–PREMISES SELLER ” MEANS A PERSON THAT SELLS FILLED 17
361	361	AND UNOPENED REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS FOR ON –PREMISES 18
362	362	CONSUMPTION . 19
363	363
364	364	(2) “ON–PREMISES SELLER ” INCLUDES: 20
365	365
366	366	(I) BARS; 21
367	367
368	368	(II) HOTELS; 22
369	369
370	370	(III) RESTAURANTS ; 23
371	371
372	372	(IV) SPORTING VENUES ; 24
373	373
374	374	(V) ENTERTAINMENT VENUES ; AND 25
375	375	SENATE BILL 346 9
376	376
377	377
378	378	(VI) GAMING VENUES . 1
379	379
380	380	(P) “PERFORMANCE TARGETS ” MEANS THE TARGETS ES TABLISHED UNDER 2
381	381	§ 9–1740 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 3
382	382
383	383	(Q) (1) “PRODUCER” MEANS A PERSON RESPO NSIBLE FOR COMPLYING 4
384	384	WITH THE REQUIREMENT S UNDER THIS PART . 5
385	385
386	386	(2) “PRODUCER” INCLUDES A FRANCHISO R OF A FRANCHISE 6
387	387	LOCATED IN THE STATE. 7
388	388
389	389	(3) “PRODUCER” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 8
390	390
391	391	(I) THE STATE, A COUNTY, A MUNICIPAL CORPORAT ION, OR 9
392	392	ANY OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE; 10
393	393
394	394	(II) A CHARITABLE ORGANIZAT ION THAT IS TAX –EXEMPT 11
395	395	UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; 12
396	396
397	397	(III) A SOCIAL WELFARE ORGAN IZATION THAT IS TAX –EXEMPT 13
398	398	UNDER § 501(C)(4) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE; 14
399	399
400	400	(IV) A FRANCHISEE THAT OPER ATES A FRANCHISE IN THE 15
401	401	STATE; 16
402	402
403	403	(V) A PERSON THAT ANNUALLY SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE , 17
404	404	DISTRIBUTES, OR IMPORTS INTO THE COUNTRY FOR SALE IN THE STATE FEWER 18
405	405	THAN 1,000 REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS; OR 19
406	406
407	407	(VI) A PERSON THAT ANNUALLY SELLS, OFFERS FOR SALE , OR 20
408	408	DISTRIBUTES I N THE STATE REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS THAT IN 21
409	409	AGGREGATE GENERATE L ESS THAN $5,000,000 EACH YEAR IN GLOBAL REVENUE. 22
410	410
411	411	(R) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER 23
412	412	RECYCLING REFUND AND LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 24
413	413	9–1739 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 25
414	414
415	415	(S) “RECYCLING RATE ” MEANS THE NUMBER OF NONREFILLABLE 26
416	416	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE THAT ARE RECYCL ED 27
417	417	SHOWN AS A PERCENTAG E OF ALL NONREFILLAB LE REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 28
418	418	CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE. 29
419	419
420	420	(T) “REDEEM” MEANS THE RETURN OF AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 30 10 SENATE BILL 346
421	421
422	422
423	423	CONTAINER IN EXCHANG E FOR A REFUND , A VOUCHER FOR A REFU ND, OR A CREDIT 1
424	424	TO AN ACCOUNT FOR NO T LESS THAN THE REFU ND VALUE. 2
425	425
426	426	(U) “REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER” MEANS A BEVERAGE 3
427	427	CONTAINER THAT , AT THE TIME OF SALE: 4
428	428
429	429	(1) CONTAINS 3 LITERS OR LESS OF A BEVERAGE; 5
430	430
431	431	(2) BEARS A UNIVERSAL PRO DUCT CODE; AND 6
432	432
433	433	(3) MAY BEAR A MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE FOR THE 7
434	434	PURPOSE OF ENSURING LEGITIMATE REDEMPTIO N AND DETERRING FRAU D. 8
435	435
436	436	(V) “REDEMPTION FACILITY ” MEANS A FACILITY THAT : 9
437	437
438	438	(1) ACCEPTS EMPTY BEVERAG E CONTAINERS FROM A CONSUMER , A 10
439	439	RETAILER, OR BOTH; 11
440	440
441	441	(2) COLLECTS, SORTS, AND COUNTS EMPTY BEV ERAGE CONTAINERS ; 12
442	442
443	443	(3) REFUNDS THE REFUND VA LUE OF EMPTY REDEEMA BLE 13
444	444	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN CASH, WITH A VOUCHER, OR AS A CREDIT TO AN 14
445	445	ACCOUNT FOR NOT LESS THAN THE REFUND VALU E OF THE REDEEMABLE 15
446	446	BEVERAGE CONTAINER ; AND 16
447	447
448	448	(4) IS LICENSED UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 17
449	449
450	450	(W) “REDEMPTION RATE ” MEANS THE PERCENTAGE OF REDEEMABLE 18
451	451	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN TH E STATE THAT ARE REDEEM ED FOR THE 19
452	452	DEPOSIT VALUE . 20
453	453
454	454	(X) “REFILLABLE” MEANS A BEVERAGE CON TAINER THAT IS DESIG NED AND 21
455	455	INTENDED TO BE REUSE D AS A BEVERAGE CONT AINER AFTER BEING US ED BY A 22
456	456	CONSUMER WITHOUT THE NEED FOR REMANUFACTU RING. 23
457	457
458	458	(Y) (1) “RETAILER” MEANS A PERSON THAT ENGA GES IN THE SALE OF 24
459	459	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS TO A CONS UMER IN THE STATE. 25
460	460
461	461	(2) “RETAILER” INCLUDES A PERSON TH AT ENGAGES IN THE SA LE OF 26
462	462	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS: 27
463	463
464	464	(I) THROUGH A VENDING MAC HINE; OR 28
465	465	SENATE BILL 346 11
466	466
467	467
468	468	(II) ONLINE FOR HOME OR OFFICE DELIVERY . 1
469	469
470	470	(Z) “REVERSE VENDING MACHI NE” MEANS AN AUTOMATED D EVICE THAT: 2
471	471
472	472	(1) ACCEPTS ONE OR MORE T YPES OF EMPTY REDEEM ABLE 3
473	473	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 4
474	474
475	475	(2) USES A LASER SCANNER , AN OPTICAL SENSOR , A 5
476	476	MICROPROCESSOR , OR OTHER TECHNOLOGY TO ACCURATE LY RECOGNIZE A 6
477	477	BEVERAGE CONTAINER ’S UNIVERSAL PRODUCT CODE TO DETERMINE WH ETHER THE 7
478	478	CONTAINER IS A REDEE MABLE BEVERAGE CONTA INER; 8
479	479
480	480	(3) ISSUES A REDEEMABLE C REDIT SLIP FOR THE R EDEEMABLE 9
481	481	BEVERAGE CONTAINER ’S REFUND VALUE ; 10
482	482
483	483	(4) SEPARATES REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FROM 11
484	484	CONTAINERS THAT ARE NOT REDEEMABLE ; 12
485	485
486	486	(5) USES MECHANICAL COMPA CTION TO CANCEL REDE EMABLE 13
487	487	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT HAVE BEEN REDEE MED; AND 14
488	488
489	489	(6) COMPILES INFORMATION REGARDING THE REDEEM ABLE 15
490	490	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT HAVE BEEN REDEE MED, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF 16
491	491	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS REDEEMED . 17
492	492
493	493	(AA) (1) “UNIVERSAL PRODUCT COD E” OR “UPC” MEANS A STANDARD 18
494	494	BARCODE THAT ENCODES A NUMBER UNIQUELY AS SIGNED TO A PRODUCT FOR 19
495	495	IDENTIFICATION OF TH E PRODUCT. 20
496	496
497	497	(2) “UNIVERSAL PRODUCT COD E” OR “UPC” INCLUDES: 21
498	498
499	499	(I) ANY INDUSTRY–ACCEPTED BARCODE USE D FOR PRODUCT 22
500	500	IDENTIFICATION PURPO SES; AND 23
501	501
502	502	(II) A EUROPEAN ARTICLE NUMB ER. 24
503	503
504	504	9–1738. 25
505	505
506	506	IT IS THE INTENT OF T HE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO: 26
507	507
508	508	(1) REDUCE THE VOLUME OF LITTER AND PLASTIC P OLLUTION FROM 27
509	509	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN THE STATE BY ACHIEVING A REDEMPTION RATE OF A T 28
510	510	LEAST 90% FOR THE APPROXIMATEL Y 5,500,000,000 SINGLE–USE BEVERAGE 29 12 SENATE BILL 346
511	511
512	512
513	513	CONTAINERS SOLD ANNU ALLY IN THE STATE; 1
514	514
515	515	(2) PROVIDE A SOURCE OF HIGH–QUALITY, FOOD–GRADE MATERIALS 2
516	516	FOR USE AS RECYCLED CONTENT IN BEVERAGE AND FOOD CONTAINERS ; 3
517	517
518	518	(3) REDUCE THE VOLUME OF BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT ARE 4
519	519	LANDFILLED OR INCINE RATED IN THE STATE; 5
520	520
521	521	(4) REDUCE THE COSTS OF L ITTER AND BEVERAGE C ONTAINER 6
522	522	COLLECTION, RECYCLING, AND DISPOSAL INCURRE D BY TAXPAYERS , COUNTIES, 7
523	523	AND MUNICIPAL CORPOR ATIONS BY MAKING PRO DUCERS OF BEVERAGE 8
524	524	CONTAINERS RESPONSIB LE FOR THE RECOVERY , RECYCLING, AND REUSE OF 9
525	525	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 10
526	526
527	527	(5) PROVIDE INCENTIVES FO R INCREASING THE US E OF REUSABLE 11
528	528	AND REFILLABLE BEVER AGE CONTAINERS ; AND 12
529	529
530	530	(6) REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 13
531	531	PRODUCTION , TRANSPORTATION , PROCESSING, AND WASTE DISPOSAL O F 14
532	532	SINGLE–USE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD IN THE STATE. 15
533	533
534	534	9–1739. 16
535	535
536	536	THERE IS A MARYLAND BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND AND 17
537	537	LITTER REDUCTION PROGRAM IN THE DEPARTMENT . 18
538	538
539	539	9–1740. 19
540	540
541	541	PERFORMANCE TARGETS F OR THE PROGRAM ARE AS FOLLOW S: 20
542	542
543	543	(1) A 70% REDEMPTION RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2029; 21
544	544
545	545	(2) A 90% REDEMPTION RATE BY DECEMBER 31, 2032; 22
546	546
547	547	(3) BY DECEMBER 31, 2027, ATTAINMENT OF ALL CO NVENIENCE 23
548	548	STANDARDS IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1751 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 24
549	549	AND 25
550	550
551	551	(4) BY DECEMBER 31, 2035, AT LEAST 10% OF ALL BEVERAGE 26
552	552	CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE ARE RETURNED AN D REFILLED. 27
553	553
554	554	9–1741. 28
555	555	SENATE BILL 346 13
556	556
557	557
558	558	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 1
559	559	BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2028, EACH REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINER SOLD IN 2
560	560	THE STATE SHALL INCLUDE A DEPICTION OF THE FOL LOWING INFORMATION : 3
561	561
562	562	(I) THE WORD “MARYLAND” OR THE LETTERS “MD”; AND 4
563	563
564	564	(II) 1. FOR REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE CONTAINERS WITH A 5
565	565	VOLUME OF 24 FLUID OUNCES OR LESS , A REFUND VALUE OF 10 CENTS; OR 6
566	566
567	567	2. FOR REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE CONTAINERS WITH A 7
568	568	VOLUME OF MORE THAN 24 FLUID OUNCES , A REFUND VALUE OF 15 CENTS. 8
569	569
570	570	(2) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADJUST THE REFUND VA LUES SPECIFIED 9
571	571	IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION : 10
572	572
573	573	(I) IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES ALTERING THE REFUND 11
574	574	VALUES IS NECESSARY TO MEET OR EXCEED PE RFORMANCE TARGETS ; OR 12
575	575
576	576	(II) AT THE REQUEST OF A B EVERAGE CONTAINER 13
577	577	STEWARDSHIP ORGAN IZATION. 14
578	578
579	579	(3) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2032, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL 15
580	580	INCREASE THE REFUND VALUES SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION 16
581	581	BY 5 CENTS IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THAT FOR 2 CONSECUTIVE 17
582	582	CALENDAR YEARS THE R EDEMPTION RATE WAS L ESS THAN 90% OF THE TOTAL 18
583	583	NUMBER OF BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS SOLD IN TH E STATE. 19
584	584
585	585	(B) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER D EPICTING THE INFORMA TION SPECIFIED IN 20
586	586	SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE SOLD TO A CON SUMER BEFORE 21
587	587	JANUARY 1, 2028. 22
588	588
589	589	(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 23
590	590	BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2028: 24
591	591
592	592	(I) THE WHOLESALE PRICE A ND THE RETAIL PRICE OF A FULL 25
593	593	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER SHALL INCL UDE THE REFUND VALUE OF THE 26
594	594	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER; AND 27
595	595
596	596	(II) A RETAILER SHALL INCLU DE ON A CUSTOMER’S SALES 28
597	597	RECEIPT THE REFUND V ALUE OF A REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S OLD BY 29
598	598	THE RETAILER TO THE CUSTOMER. 30
599	599
600	600	(2) THE RETAIL PRICE OF A FULL REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE 31 14 SENATE BILL 346
601	601
602	602
603	603	CONTAINER SOLD BY AN ON–PREMISES SELLER MAY NOT INCLUDE THE REFU ND 1
604	604	VALUE OF THE REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER. 2
605	605
606	606	9–1742. 3
607	607
608	608	(A) (1) THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE A RANGE OF OPTIONS F OR 4
609	609	CUSTOMERS TO CONVENI ENTLY REDEEM EMPTY R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 5
610	610	CONTAINERS FOR THE F ULL REFUND VALUE , INCLUDING: 6
611	611
612	612	(I) AT A RETAILER’S PLACE OF BUSINESS THROUGH DIRECT 7
613	613	TAKE–BACK BY THE RETAILER , REVERSE VENDING MACH INES, A BAG DROP 8
614	614	PROGRAM, OR OTHER REDEMPTION METHODS; 9
615	615
616	616	(II) DEDICATED AND CONVENI ENTLY LOCATED REDEMP TION 10
617	617	FACILITIES OPERATED BY RETAILERS , PUBLIC ENTITIES , OR THE BEVERAGE 11
618	618	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZAT ION; AND 12
619	619
620	620	(III) PLACING REDEEMABLE BE VERAGE CONTAINER 13
621	621	REDEMPTION AND PROCE SSING METHODS , SUCH AS REVERSE VEND ING MACHINES , 14
622	622	BAG DROP PROGRAMS , AND ACCOUNT –BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAMS , IN 15
623	623	AREAS: 16
624	624
625	625	1. WITH A HIGH NUMBER OF PEDESTRIANS ; AND 17
626	626
627	627	2. WHERE INDIVIDUALS PURC HASE OR USE BEVERAGE 18
628	628	CONTAINERS. 19
629	629
630	630	(2) THE PROGRAM SHALL PROVIDE A RANGE OF OPTIONS F OR 20
631	631	ON–PREMISES SELLERS TO CONVENIENTLY REDEEM EMPTY REDEEMABLE 21
632	632	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR THE FULL REFUND VALUE, INCLUDING: 22
633	633
634	634	(I) AN ACCOUNT–BASED REF UND ISSUED BY THE BE VERAGE 23
635	635	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION OR IT S AGENTS FOLLOWING T HE 24
636	636	COLLECTION OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS BY THE BE VERAGE 25
637	637	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION OR IT S AGENTS FROM THE ON –PREMISES 26
638	638	SELLER; OR 27
639	639
640	640	(II) AN ACCOUNT–BASED REFUND ISSUED BY THE OPERATOR OF 28
641	641	A BAG DROP PROGRAM . 29
642	642
643	643	(B) (1) A PERSON SHALL APPLY T O THE DEPARTMENT FOR A LICE NSE TO 30
644	644	OPERATE A REDEMPTION FACILITY IN THE STATE. 31
645	645	SENATE BILL 346 15
646	646
647	647
648	648	(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVE LOP STANDARDS AND A 1
649	649	LICENSING PROCESS FO R THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OP ERATION OF REDEMPTIO N 2
650	650	FACILITIES. 3
651	651
652	652	(C) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , A REDEMPTION 4
653	653	FACILITY SHALL ACCEP T ALL TYPES OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 5
654	654	CONTAINERS FOR REDEM PTION. 6
655	655
656	656	(D) A RETAILER OR REDEMPTI ON FACILITY MAY REFU SE TO ACCEPT AN 7
657	657	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER THAT : 8
658	658
659	659	(1) IS DIRTY; 9
660	660
661	661	(2) IS BROKEN; 10
662	662
663	663	(3) CONTAINS MATERIAL FOR EIGN TO THE NORMAL C ONTENTS OF 11
664	664	THE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER; OR 12
665	665
666	666	(4) THE RETAILER OR REDEM PTION FACILITY BELIE VES WAS NOT 13
667	667	SOLD IN THE STATE. 14
668	668
669	669	(E) (1) THIS SUBSECTION APPLI ES TO A RETAILER WIT H AT LEAST 3,000 15
670	670	SQUARE FEET OF SALES FLOOR SPACE AND AT L EAST 150 SQUARE FEET OF SHELF 16
671	671	SPACE DEDICATED TO T HE DISPLAY OF REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS. 17
672	672
673	673	(2) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION , A RETAILER 18
674	674	SHALL: 19
675	675
676	676	(I) ESTABLISH AND MAINTAI N A DEDICATED AREA A T THE 20
677	677	RETAILER’S PLACE OF BUSINESS TO ACCEPT EMPTY REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE 21
678	678	CONTAINERS; 22
679	679
680	680	(II) ACCEPT AT THE RETAILE R’S PLACE OF BUSINESS ANY 23
681	681	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINERS RET URNED FOR RED EMPTION 24
682	682	DURING THE RETAILER ’S BUSINESS HOURS ; AND 25
683	683
684	684	(III) PAY TO THE REDEEMER T HE REFUND VALUE FOR EACH 26
685	685	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER REDE EMED. 27
686	686
687	687	(3) RETAILERS MAY MEET TH E REQUIREMENTS IN PA RAGRAPH (2) OF 28
688	688	THIS SUBSECTION THRO UGH VARIOUS METHODS , INCLUDING: 29
689	689
690	690	(I) SUPPLEMENTING THE MAN UAL COLLECTION AND S TORING 30 16 SENATE BILL 346
691	691
692	692
693	693	OF REDEEMED REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS WITH A REVERSE VE NDING 1
694	694	MACHINE, A BAG DROP PROGRAM , OR OTHER COUNTING AN D SORTING METHODS ; 2
695	695	AND 3
696	696
697	697	(II) GROUPING BEVERAGE CON TAINER REDEMPTION AN D 4
698	698	PROCESSING METHODS W ITH THOSE OF OTHER R ETAILERS IF: 5
699	699
700	700	1. THE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R STEWARDSHIP 6
701	701	ORGANIZATION APPROVE S THE PROPOSAL ; AND 7
702	702
703	703	2. THE RETAILERS PARTICI PATING IN THE GROUPE D 8
704	704	METHODS PROVIDE CONS ISTENT SERVICE , MARKETING, AND SITE REDEMPTION 9
705	705	LOCATIONS THAT COMPLY WITH DISTANCE PROVIS IONS DETERMINED BY T HE 10
706	706	DEPARTMENT . 11
707	707
708	708	(4) A RETAILER WITHIN AN A REA THAT MEETS THE C ONVENIENCE 12
709	709	STANDARDS ESTABLISHE D BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1751 OF THIS 13
710	710	SUBTITLE MAY BE EXEM PT FROM THE REQUIREM ENTS OF THIS SUBS ECTION IF THE 14
711	711	RETAILER: 15
712	712
713	713	(I) IS LOCATED IN CLOSE P ROXIMITY TO A REDEMP TION 16
714	714	FACILITY IN THAT ARE A; AND 17
715	715
716	716	(II) SHARES THE COST OF TH E OPERATION OF THE 18
717	717	REDEMPTION FACILITY WITH THE BEVERAGE CO NTAINER STEWARDSHIP 19
718	718	ORGANIZATION . 20
719	719
720	720	(5) THE DEPARTMENT MAY : 21
721	721
722	722	(I) SET STANDARDS FOR THE NUMBER OF REVERSE VE NDING 22
723	723	MACHINES REQUIRED FO R RETAILERS LOCATED IN UNDERSERVED COMMU NITIES; 23
724	724	AND 24
725	725
726	726	(II) ESTABLISH A CAP FOR T HE NUMBER OF EMPTY 25
727	727	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT MAY BE REDEEMED PER VISI T AT 26
728	728	SMALL RETAILERS . 27
729	729
730	730	(F) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION, A RETAILER WITH LESS 28
731	731	THAN 3,000 SQUARE FEET OF SALES FLOOR SPACE OR LESS THAN 150 SQUARE FEET 29
732	732	OF SHELF SPACE DEDIC ATED TO THE DISPLAY OF REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 30
733	733	CONTAINERS SHALL : 31
734	734
735	735	(1) PROVIDE ON–SITE CASH REFUNDS FOR THE REDEMP TION OF ANY 32 SENATE BILL 346 17
736	736
737	737
738	738	EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER THAT IS OF THE SAME MATER IAL AND 1
739	739	SIZE AS THOSE THAT A RE SOLD BY THE RETAI LER IF THE EMPTY RED EEMABLE 2
740	740	BEVERAGE CONTAINER B EING REDEEMED IS NOT ACCEPTED BY A REVERS E 3
741	741	VENDING MACHINE ; AND 4
742	742
743	743	(2) POST AT THE RETAILER ’S ENTRANCE THE ADDRE SS OF THE 5
744	744	NEAREST REVERSE VEND ING MACHINE OR OTHER REDEMPTION METHOD TH AT 6
745	745	PROVIDES AN IMMEDIAT E CASH REFUND FOR RE DEEMING EMPTY REDEEM ABLE 7
746	746	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS . 8
747	747
748	748	(G) (1) A PERSON THAT PROVIDES A REVERSE VENDING MACHINE FOR 9
749	749	THE REDEMPTION OF EM PTY REDEEMABLE BEVER AGE CONTAINERS SHALL : 10
750	750
751	751	(I) PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR REDEEMING EMPTY REDE EMABLE 11
752	752	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS WHEN THE REVERSE VEN DING MACHINE IS FULL , BROKEN, 12
753	753	OR UNDER REPAIR ; AND 13
754	754
755	755	(II) PROVIDE AN OPTION FOR REDEEMING ANY EMPTY 14
756	756	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS NOT ACCEP TED BY THE REVERSE V ENDING 15
757	757	MACHINE. 16
758	758
759	759	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A PROCESS FOR 17
760	760	SUBMITTING FOR REVIE W, APPROVING, AND MONITORING AN AC COUNT–BASED 18
761	761	BULK PROCESSING PROG RAM THAT: 19
762	762
763	763	1. ENSURES THAT THE PROG RAM WILL ACCURATELY 20
764	764	REFUND DEPOSITS AND MAINTAIN AND REPORT DATA FROM EACH TRANS ACTION; 21
765	765	AND 22
766	766
767	767	2. IDENTIFIES THE INFORM ATION THAT MUST BE 23
768	768	SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL OF THE PROGRAM . 24
769	769
770	770	(II) A PERSON THAT INTENDS TO PROVIDE AN ACCOUNT –BASED 25
771	771	BULK PROCESSING PROG RAM FOR THE REDEMPTI ON OF EMPTY REDEEMAB LE 26
772	772	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SHALL SUBMIT INFORMA TION IDENTIFIED UNDE R 27
773	773	SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL OF 28
774	774	THE PROGRAM . 29
775	775
776	776	(H) REFUNDS PROVIDED FOR AN EMPTY REDEEMED RED EEMABLE 30
777	777	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S HALL BE: 31
778	778
779	779	(1) IN CASH; 32
780	780	18 SENATE BILL 346
781	781
782	782
783	783	(2) IN THE FORM OF A RECE IPT FROM A REVERSE V ENDING MACHINE 1
784	784	IF: 2
785	785
786	786	(I) THE RECEIPT CAN BE EX CHANGED FOR CASH WIT HIN 60 3
787	787	DAYS AFTER THE RECEI PT IS ISSUED; AND 4
788	788
789	789	(II) THERE IS NO R EQUIREMENT THAT OTHE R GOODS BE 5
790	790	PURCHASED TO RECEIVE THE CASH REFUND ; OR 6
791	791
792	792	(3) CREDITED TO AN ACCOUN T BY THE RECEIVER OF THE EMPTY 7
793	793	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER SO THAT TH E CONSUMER CAN RECEI VE THE 8
794	794	REFUND OR A REFUND R ECEIPT WITHIN A SPEC IFIED NUMBER OF DA YS, AS 9
795	795	DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT , AFTER REDEEMING THE EMPTY REDEEMABLE 10
796	796	BEVERAGE CONTAINER . 11
797	797
798	798	(I) (1) A REDEMPTION FACILITY , RETAILER, OR ANY OTHER PERSON 12
799	799	THAT ACCEPTS REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS FOR REDEMPTION S HALL BE 13
800	800	REIMBURSED BY THE BE VERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP OR GANIZATION OR ITS 14
801	801	AGENT FOR THE HANDLI NG OF EACH EMPTY RED EEMABLE BEVERAGE CON TAINER 15
802	802	REDEEMED . 16
803	803
804	804	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SET A HANDLING FEE TO BE PAID 17
805	805	BY THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP OR GANIZATION OR ITS AG ENT TO A 18
806	806	REDEMPTION FACILITY, RETAILER, OR ANY OTHER PERSON THAT ACCEPTS EMPTY 19
807	807	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEM PTION. 20
808	808
809	809	(II) 1. THE HANDLING FEE SHAL L BE SET AT AN AMOUN T 21
810	810	THAT COVERS THE COST S OF COLLECTING , SORTING, PROCESSING, AND 22
811	811	TRANSPORTING EMPTY R EDEEMABLE BE VERAGE CONTAINERS FO R RECYCLING , 23
812	812	REUSE, OR REFILLING. 24
813	813
814	814	2. THE DEPARTMENT MAY INCREA SE THE HANDLING 25
815	815	FEE IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES AN INCREASE IS NECES SARY TO ENCOURAGE 26
816	816	THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE REDEMPTION FACI LITIES. 27
817	817
818	818	(J) (1) AN ON–PREMISES SELLER T HAT PROVIDES EMPTY R EDEEMABLE 28
819	819	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION SHALL BE REIMBURSED BY THE 29
820	820	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION OR ITS AGENT FOR : 30
821	821
822	822	(I) THE REFUNDS PAID BY T HE ON–PREMISES SELLER FOR THE 31
823	823	EMPTY REDEEMED REDEE MABLE BEVERAGE CONTA INERS; AND 32
824	824
825	825	(II) THE HANDLING OF EACH EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE 33 SENATE BILL 346 19
826	826
827	827
828	828	CONTAINER REDEEMED . 1
829	829
830	830	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL SET A MATERIAL HANDLING FEE 2
831	831	TO BE PAID BY THE BE VERAGE CONTAINER STE WARDSHIP ORGANIZATIO N OR ITS 3
832	832	AGENT TO AN ON –PREMISES SELLER THAT PROVIDES EMPTY REDEEMABLE 4
833	833	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION . 5
834	834
835	835	(II) THE HANDLING FEE SHAL L BE SET AT AN AMOUN T THAT 6
836	836	COVERS THE COSTS OF TEMPORARY STORAGE , PRELIMINARY SORTING , AND 7
837	837	PREPARING EACH REDEE MABLE BEVERAGE CONTA INER REDEEMED FOR 8
838	838	COLLECTION. 9
839	839
840	840	(3) THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION OR ITS 10
841	841	AGENT SHALL PROVIDE TO AN ON–PREMISES SELLER : 11
842	842
843	843	(I) ANY RECEPTACLES OR BA GS REQUIRED FOR THE 12
844	844	PRELIMINARY SORTING OF REDEEMED REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS BY 13
845	845	THE ON–PREMISES SELLER ; AND 14
846	846
847	847	(II) ANY LA BELS NECESSARY FOR A TTRIBUTING THE 15
848	848	REDEEMED REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS TO THE ON–PREMISES SELLER . 16
849	849
850	850	(K) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR TH AT COLLECTS A DEPOSI T FROM A RETAILER , 17
851	851	REDEMPTION FACILITY , OR ANY OTHER PERSON THAT ACCEPTS REDEEMA BLE 18
852	852	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR REDEMPTION SHALL A CCOUNT FOR ANY DEPOS ITS IN 19
853	853	ACCORDANCE WITH § 9–1743 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 20
854	854
855	855	(L) REDEEMED EMPTY REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS SHALL BE 21
856	856	COLLECTED FOR RETURN TO THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP 22
857	857	ORGANIZATION FOR SAL E AS SCRAP MATERIAL TO FINANCE THE PROGRAM. 23
858	858
859	859	9–1743. 24
860	860
861	861	(A) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR SH ALL DEPOSIT ANY DEPO SITS COLLECTED 25
862	862	UNDER § 9–1742 OF THIS SUBTITLE INT O A DEPOSIT COLLECTI ON ACCOUNT THAT IS 26
863	863	MAINTAINED SEPARATEL Y FROM ALL OTHER REV ENUES. 27
864	864
865	865	(B) THE FUNDS IN THE DEPO SIT COLLECTION ACCOUNT MAY BE USED ONLY 28
866	866	TO PAY THE REFUND VA LUE OF AN EMPTY REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINER 29
867	867	BEING REDEEMED . 30
868	868
869	869	(C) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR SH ALL REPORT TO THE BE VERAGE CONTAINER 31
870	870	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION, AT A FREQUENCY DETER MINED BY THE 32 20 SENATE BILL 346
871	871
872	872
873	873	DEPARTMENT , THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION : 1
874	874
875	875	(1) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD 2
876	876	AND EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS REDEEMED SINCE THE L AST 3
877	877	REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP 4
878	878	ORGANIZATION UNDER T HIS SUBSECTION ; 5
879	879
880	880	(2) THE FUNDS DEPOSITE D INTO THE DEPOSIT C OLLECTION 6
881	881	ACCOUNT AND THE REFU NDS ISSUED FROM THE DEPOSIT COLLECTION A CCOUNT 7
882	882	SINCE THE LAST REPOR T WAS SUBMITTED TO T HE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R 8
883	883	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION UNDER THIS SUBS ECTION; 9
884	884
885	885	(3) ANY INCOME EARNED ON THE FUNDS IN THE DEP OSIT 10
886	886	COLLECTION ACCOUNT S INCE THE LAST REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE 11
887	887	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION UNDER THIS SUBSE CTION; 12
888	888
889	889	(4) THE BALANCE OF THE DE POSIT COLLECTION ACC OUNT; AND 13
890	890
891	891	(5) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 14
892	892
893	893	(D) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DETE RMINE THE POINT AT W HICH A 15
894	894	DEPOSIT BECOMES AN U NCLAIMED DEPOSIT . 16
895	895
896	896	(2) UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS AR E CALCULATED AS THE AMOUNT OF 17
897	897	FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO A DEPOSIT COLLECTION ACCOUNT THAT ARE IN EXCESS 18
898	898	OF THE SUM OF: 19
899	899
900	900	(I) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS ON THE DEPO SIT COLLECTION 20
901	901	ACCOUNT DURING THE T IME FOR WHICH UNCLAI MED DEPOSITS ARE BEI NG 21
902	902	CALCULATED ; AND 22
903	903
904	904	(II) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF T HE REFUND VALUE RECE IVED FOR 23
905	905	THE EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS REDEEMED DURING THE TIME 24
906	906	FOR WHICH THE UNC LAIMED DEPOSITS ARE BEING CALCULATED . 25
907	907
908	908	(3) A DEPOSIT INITIATOR SH ALL TRANSFER ALL UNC LAIMED 26
909	909	DEPOSITS TO THE BEVE RAGE CONTAINER STEWA RDSHIP ORGANIZATION AT A 27
910	910	FREQUENCY DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 28
911	911
912	912	(4) THE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R STEWARDSHIP ORGANI ZATION 29
913	913	SHALL: 30
914	914
915	915	(I) ESTABLISH A RESERVE A CCOUNT TO MANAGE ALL 31 SENATE BILL 346 21
916	916
917	917
918	918	UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS ; AND 1
919	919
920	920	(II) TRANSFER 10% OF ALL UNCLAIMED DEP OSITS TO THE 2
921	921	DEPARTMENT WITH A FRE QUENCY DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 3
922	922
923	923	(5) THE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R STEWARDSHIP ORGANI ZATION 4
924	924	SHALL U SE THE FUNDS IN THE RESERVE ACCOUNT ESTA BLISHED UNDER 5
925	925	PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION T O: 6
926	926
927	927	(I) ACHIEVE THE INTENT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY STATED 7
928	928	IN § 9–1738 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 8
929	929
930	930	(II) MEET OR EXCEED THE PE RFORMANCE TARGETS 9
931	931	ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1740 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 10
932	932
933	933	(6) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL TRAN SFER ANY UNCLAIMED 11
934	934	DEPOSITS RECEIVED UN DER THIS PARAGRAPH T O THE STATE RECYCLING TRUST 12
935	935	FUND UNDER § 9–1707(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 13
936	936
937	937	(II) THE UNCLAIMED DEPOSIT S TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE 14
938	938	RECYCLING TRUST FUND MAY BE USED ONLY FOR THE COSTS OF ADM INISTERING 15
939	939	AND FINANCING THE GRANT PROGRAM UNDER § 9–1750 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 16
940	940
941	941	9–1744. 17
942	942
943	943	(A) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THIS SECTION 18
944	944	APPLIES TO A PRODUCE R THAT SELLS , OFFERS FOR SALE , OR DISTRIBUT ES 19
945	945	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS IN THE STATE. 20
946	946
947	947	(2) (I) IF THE BEVERAGE CONTA INER IS SOLD UNDER T HE 21
948	948	PRODUCER’S OWN BRAND OR LACKS IDENTIFICATION OF A BRAND, THE PRODUCER 22
949	949	IS THE PERSON THAT M ANUFACTURES THE REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINER. 23
950	950
951	951	(II) IF THE REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER IS 24
952	952	MANUFACTURED BY A PE RSON OTHER THAN THE BRAND OWNER , THE PRODUCER IS 25
953	953	THE PERSON THAT IS T HE LICENSEE OF A BRA ND OR TRADEMARK UNDE R WHICH A 26
954	954	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER IS SOLD , OFFERED FOR SALE , OR 27
955	955	DISTRIBUTED IN THE STATE, WHETHER OR NOT THE T RADEMARK IS REGISTER ED IN 28
956	956	THE STATE, UNLESS ANOTHER RESPO NSIBLE PERSON HAS CO NTRACTUALLY 29
957	957	ACCEPTED RESPONSIBIL ITY AS THE PRODUCER AND HAS JOINED THE B EVERAGE 30
958	958	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION AS TH E PRODUCER RESPONSIB LE FOR 31
959	959	THE REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NER UNDER THIS SECTI ON. 32
960	960	22 SENATE BILL 346
961	961
962	962
963	963	(III) IF THERE IS NO PERSON DESCRIBED IN THIS PA RAGRAPH 1
964	964	OVER WHOM THE STATE CAN CONSTITUTIO NALLY EXERCISE JURIS DICTION, THE 2
965	965	PRODUCER IS THE PERS ON THAT IMPORTS OR D ISTRIBUTES THE REDEE MABLE 3
966	966	BEVERAGE CONTAINER IN THE STATE. 4
967	967
968	968	(3) IF ANOTHER PERSON CON TRACTUALLY ACCEPTS 5
969	969	RESPONSIBILITY AS A PRODUCER UNDER PARAG RAPH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 6
970	970	THE PRODUCER MUST PR OVIDE A CERTIFIED CO PY OF THE CONTRACTUA L 7
971	971	AGREEMENT TO THE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER STEW ARDSHIP ORGANIZATION . 8
972	972
973	973	(B) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2028, A PRODUCER MAY NOT S ELL, OFFER FOR 9
974	974	SALE, OR DISTRIBUTE IN OR IMPORT INTO THE STATE A REDEEMABLE BE VERAGE 10
975	975	CONTAINER UNLESS THE PRODUCER: 11
976	976
977	977	(1) IS REGISTERED WITH TH E DEPARTMENT IN ACCORDA NCE WITH 12
978	978	THIS SECTION; 13
979	979
980	980	(2) HAS PAID THE REGISTRA TION FEE UNDER SUBSE CTION (F) OF 14
981	981	THIS SECTION; AND 15
982	982
983	983	(3) IS PART OF THE BEVERA GE CONTAINER STEWARD SHIP 16
984	984	ORGANIZATION THAT : 17
985	985
986	986	(I) HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 18
987	987	9–1745 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; AND 19
988	988
989	989	(II) HAS A BEVERAG E CONTAINER STEWARDS HIP PLAN 20
990	990	APPROVED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 21
991	991
992	992	(C) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2027, THE 22
993	993	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION SHALL PROVIDE TO THE 23
994	994	DEPARTMENT : 24
995	995
996	996	(1) A LIST OF EACH PRODUCE R PARTICIPATING IN T HE BEVERAGE 25
997	997	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION ; AND 26
998	998
999	999	(2) FOR EACH PRODUCER , THE REGISTRATION FOR M REQUIRED 27
1000	1000	UNDER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS SECTION. 28
1001	1001
1002	1002	(D) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CREA TE A REGISTRATION FO RM THAT 29
1003	1003	REQUIRES EACH PRODUC ER PARTICIPATING IN THE BE VERAGE CONTAINER 30
1004	1004	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION TO PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATIO N: 31
1005	1005	SENATE BILL 346 23
1006	1006
1007	1007
1008	1008	(I) THE NAME, PRIMARY BUSINESS ADD RESS, AND CONTACT 1
1009	1009	INFORMATION OF THE P ERSON RESPONSIBLE FO R ENSURING COMPLIANC E WITH 2
1010	1010	THIS PART; 3
1011	1011
1012	1012	(II) A LIST OF EAC H BRAND OF REDEEMABL E BEVERAGE 4
1013	1013	CONTAINERS THAT THE PRODUCER INTENDS TO SELL, OFFER FOR SALE , OR 5
1014	1014	DISTRIBUTE IN THE STATE, INCLUDING THE SIZE A ND MATERIAL OF THE 6
1015	1015	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FOR EACH BRAND; 7
1016	1016
1017	1017	(III) FOR EACH REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINER SPECIFIED 8
1018	1018	IN THE REGISTRATION , WHETHER THE REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R: 9
1019	1019
1020	1020	1. IS REFILLABLE; AND 10
1021	1021
1022	1022	2. DEPICTS A UPC OR MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC 11
1023	1023	BARCODE; 12
1024	1024
1025	1025	(IV) HOW EACH PRODUCER WIL L PREVENT THE FRAUDU LENT 13
1026	1026	SALE AND REDEMPTION OF REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE CONTAINERS THAT WERE NOT 14
1027	1027	SOLD IN THE STATE; 15
1028	1028
1029	1029	(V) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS 16
1030	1030	EACH PRODUCER SOLD I N THE STATE IN THE IMMEDIAT ELY PRECEDING CALEND AR 17
1031	1031	YEAR; AND 18
1032	1032
1033	1033	(VI) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE 19
1034	1034	DEPARTMENT . 20
1035	1035
1036	1036	(2) A PRODUCER SHA LL SUBMIT A COMPLETE D REGISTRATION FORM 21
1037	1037	TO THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP OR GANIZATION THAT REPR ESENTS 22
1038	1038	THE PRODUCER . 23
1039	1039
1040	1040	(E) ON A SCHEDULE DETERMI NED BY THE DEPARTMENT , EACH PRODUCER 24
1041	1041	SHALL PAY A REGISTRA TION FEE ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER 25
1042	1042	SUBSECTION (F) OF THIS SECTION. 26
1043	1043
1044	1044	(F) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH AN ANNUAL REGI STRATION 27
1045	1045	FEE FOR PRODUCERS TH AT SELL REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINERS I N THE 28
1046	1046	STATE. 29
1047	1047
1048	1048	(2) THE REGISTRATION FEE SHALL BE SET IN A MA NNER THAT: 30
1049	1049
1050	1050	(I) WHEN TAKEN IN COMBINA TION WITH ANTICIPATED 31 24 SENATE BILL 346
1051	1051
1052	1052
1053	1053	REVENUES FROM PENALT IES COLLECTED UNDER § 9–1754 OF THIS SUBTITLE, WILL 1
1054	1054	PRODUCE FUNDS SUFFIC IENT TO COVER THE DEPARTMENT ’S ESTIMATED COSTS OF 2
1055	1055	PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND 3
1056	1056	EVALUATING THE PROGRAM FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR ; 4
1057	1057
1058	1058	(II) FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM DURING WHICH 5
1059	1059	REGISTRATION FEES AR E COLLECTED, SHALL COVER THE STAR T–UP COSTS OF THE 6
1060	1060	PROGRAM THAT WERE INC URRED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND FINANC ED FROM THE 7
1061	1061	GENERAL FUND; AND 8
1062	1062
1063	1063	(III) IS PROPORTIONAL TO A PRODUCER’S SHARE OF THE TOTAL 9
1064	1064	NUMBER OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE FOR THE 10
1065	1065	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G CALENDAR YEAR . 11
1066	1066
1067	1067	(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 12
1068	1068
1069	1069	(I) IF THE REVENUES FROM THE REGISTRATION FEE S IN THE 13
1070	1070	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G YEAR EXCEED THE COSTS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH 14
1071	1071	(2)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION , CARRY THE EXCESS REV ENUES FORWARD TO RED UCE 15
1072	1072	REGISTRATION FEES TH E FOLLOWING YEAR ; AND 16
1073	1073
1074	1074	(II) IF THE REVENUES FROM THE REGISTRATION FEE S IN THE 17
1075	1075	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G YEAR DO NOT COVER THE COSTS SPECIFIED IN 18
1076	1076	PARAGRAPH (2)(I) OF THIS SUBSECTION , ADJUST REGISTRATION FEES FOR THE 19
1077	1077	FOLLOWING YEAR TO AN AMOUNT THAT WILL COV ER THE DEPARTMENT ’S ACTUAL 20
1078	1078	COSTS FROM THE IMMED IATELY PRECEDING YEA R. 21
1079	1079
1080	1080	(4) (I) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS 22
1081	1081	PARAGRAPH, REGISTRATION FEES CO LLECTED UNDER THIS S UBSECTION SHALL BE : 23
1082	1082
1083	1083	1. TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE RECYCLING TRUST 24
1084	1084	FUND UNDER § 9–1707(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 25
1085	1085
1086	1086	2. USED ONLY TO COVER TH E DEPARTMENT ’S COSTS OF 26
1087	1087	PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING, ENFORCING, AND 27
1088	1088	EVALUATING THE PROGRAM. 28
1089	1089
1090	1090	(II) THE PORTION OF THE RE GISTRATION FEES THAT COVERED 29
1091	1091	THE START–UP COSTS OF THE PROGRAM AND WERE FINA NCED FROM THE GENERAL 30
1092	1092	FUND DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM FOR WHICH REG ISTRATION FEES 31
1093	1093	ARE COLLE CTED IN ACCORDANCE W ITH PARAGRAPH (2)(II) OF THIS SUBSECTION 32
1094	1094	SHALL BE DEPOSITED I NTO THE GENERAL FUND. 33
1095	1095	SENATE BILL 346 25
1096	1096
1097	1097
1098	1098	9–1745. 1
1099	1099
1100	1100	(A) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2026, THE DEPARTMENT MAY APPROV E, 2
1101	1101	FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 10 YEARS, A SINGLE BEVERAGE CO NTAINER 3
1102	1102	STEWARDSHIP ORG ANIZATION TO REPRESE NT ALL PRODUCERS IN FULFILLING THE 4
1103	1103	REQUIREMENTS OF THIS PART, IF THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP 5
1104	1104	ORGANIZATION DEMONST RATES THAT IT HAS : 6
1105	1105
1106	1106	(1) THE ABILITY, AS DETERMINED BY THE DEPARTMENT , TO 7
1107	1107	ADMINISTER THE REQUI REMENTS OF A BEVERAG E CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN 8
1108	1108	UNDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 9
1109	1109
1110	1110	(2) A GOVERNING BOARD CONS ISTING OF PRODUCERS THAT 10
1111	1111	REPRESENT THE DIVERS ITY OF APPLICABLE RE DEEMABLE BEVERAGE CO NTAINERS 11
1112	1112	IN THE MARKET ; 12
1113	1113
1114	1114	(3) SET NO UNREASONABLE B ARRIERS TO JOINING T HE BEVERA GE 13
1115	1115	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION AND W ILL TAKE INTO CONSID ERATION 14
1116	1116	THE NEEDS OF SMALL P RODUCERS THAT DO NOT GENERATE A HIGH VOLU ME OF 15
1117	1117	CONTAINERS; 16
1118	1118
1119	1119	(4) ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RE SPONSIBILITY AND SAF EGUARDS, 17
1120	1120	INCLUDING FRAUD PREV ENTION MEASURES AND AN AUDIT SCHEDULE; 18
1121	1121
1122	1122	(5) THE ABILITY TO SECURE THE CAPITAL NECESSAR Y FOR THE 19
1123	1123	INITIAL INVESTMENT I N INFRASTRUCTURE , SORTING EQUIPMENT , SOFTWARE, 20
1124	1124	TRANSPORTATION , AND OTHER START –UP EXPENSES; AND 21
1125	1125
1126	1126	(6) MET ANY OTHER REQUIRE MENTS SET BY THE DEPARTMENT . 22
1127	1127
1128	1128	(B) THE DEPARTMENT MAY RENEW THE APPROVAL OF THE BEVERAGE 23
1129	1129	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS 24
1130	1130	SECTION IF THE BEVER AGE CONTAINER STEWAR DSHIP ORGANIZATION C ONTINUES 25
1131	1131	TO MEET THE REQUIREM ENTS OF THIS SECTION AND ANY OTHER REQUIR EMENT SET 26
1132	1132	BY THE DEPARTMENT . 27
1133	1133
1134	1134	(C) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVO KE THE APPROVAL OF T HE 28
1135	1135	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION IF THE DEPARTMENT 29
1136	1136	DETERMINES THAT THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION: 30
1137	1137
1138	1138	(I) FAILED TO MEET THE RE QUIREMENTS OF THIS S ECTION; OR 31
1139	1139
1140	1140	(II) FAILED TO IMPLEMENT A ND ADMINISTER AN APP ROVED 32 26 SENATE BILL 346
1141	1141
1142	1142
1143	1143	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN IN A CCORDANCE WITH § 9–1746 OF 1
1144	1144	THIS SUBTITLE. 2
1145	1145
1146	1146	(2) IF THE DEPARTMENT REVOKES TH E APPROVAL OF THE 3
1147	1147	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF 4
1148	1148	THIS SUBSECTION : 5
1149	1149
1150	1150	(I) THE DEPARTMENT MAY APPROV E ONE OR MORE 6
1151	1151	ADDITIONAL BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATIONS TO C ARRY OUT 7
1152	1152	THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP 8
1153	1153	ORGANIZATION THAT WA S REVOKED , SUBJECT TO ONE OR MO RE OF THE 9
1154	1154	ADDITIONAL BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATIONS MEET ING THE 10
1155	1155	REQUIREMENTS SPECIFI ED IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION; AND 11
1156	1156
1157	1157	(II) THE TRUSTEE OR ESCROW AGENT OF THE TRUST F UND OR 12
1158	1158	ESCROW ACCOUNT ESTAB LISHED IN THE BEVERA GE CONTAINER STEWARD SHIP 13
1159	1159	PLAN UNDER § 9–1746(A)(3)(VI) OF THIS SUBTITLE SHA LL: 14
1160	1160
1161	1161	1. RECEIVE ALL PAYMENTS DIRECTLY FROM 15
1162	1162	PRODUCERS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PAID TO TH E BEVERAGE CONTAINER 16
1163	1163	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION; 17
1164	1164
1165	1165	2. DEPOSIT THE PAYMENTS RECEIVED UNDER ITEM 1 OF 18
1166	1166	THIS ITEM INTO THE TRUST FUND OR ES CROW ACCOUNT ; AND 19
1167	1167
1168	1168	3. MAKE PAYMENTS FROM TH E TRUST FUND OR ESCR OW 20
1169	1169	ACCOUNT AS DIRECTED BY THE DEPARTMENT TO IMPLEME NT THE REQUIREMENTS 21
1170	1170	OF THIS PART. 22
1171	1171
1172	1172	9–1746. 23
1173	1173
1174	1174	(A) (1) ON OR BEFORE MARCH 1, 2027, THE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER 24
1175	1175	STEWARDSHIP OR GANIZATION SHALL SUB MIT A BEVERAGE CONTA INER 25
1176	1176	STEWARDSHIP PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT . 26
1177	1177
1178	1178	(2) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN SHAL L: 27
1179	1179
1180	1180	(I) IDENTIFY AND INCLUDE THE CONTACT INFORMAT ION FOR 28
1181	1181	EACH PRODUCER INTEND ED TO BE COVERED UND ER THE PLAN; 29
1182	1182
1183	1183	(II) IDENTIFY EACH BRAND O F REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 30
1184	1184	CONTAINER INTENDED T O BE SOLD UNDER THE PLAN, INCLUDING THE SIZE A ND 31
1185	1185	MATERIAL OF THE REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINERS FOR EACH BRAN D AND 32 SENATE BILL 346 27
1186	1186
1187	1187
1188	1188	WHETHER THE REDEEMAB LE BEVERAGE CONTAINE RS ARE REFILLABLE ; 1
1189	1189
1190	1190	(III) DESCRIBE: 2
1191	1191
1192	1192	1. THE FINANCING INFORMA TION SPECIFIED IN 3
1193	1193	PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION ; 4
1194	1194
1195	1195	2. HOW THE PERFORMANCE T ARGETS WILL BE MET O R 5
1196	1196	EXCEEDED FOR THE 5–YEAR PERIOD FOLLOWIN G THE YEAR IN WHICH THE PLAN IS 6
1197	1197	APPROVED; 7
1198	1198
1199	1199	3. HOW STAKEHOLDER COMME NTS WERE CONS IDERED 8
1200	1200	AND REFLECTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE P LAN, INCLUDING THE ROLE O F 9
1201	1201	RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS , AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT S IN PLAN IMPLEMENTA TION; 10
1202	1202
1203	1203	4. THE ADMINISTRATION AN D IMPLEMENTATION OF 11
1204	1204	THE PLAN, INCLUDING ANY STAFFI NG THAT WILL BE NECE SSARY FOR T HESE 12
1205	1205	PURPOSES; 13
1206	1206
1207	1207	5. THE ACTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND THAT 14
1208	1208	WILL BE TAKEN FOR PU BLIC OUTREACH , EDUCATION, AND COMMUNICATION , 15
1209	1209	INCLUDING MESSAGING AND IDENTIFICATION O F TARGET AUDIENCES ; AND 16
1210	1210
1211	1211	6. THE ANTICIPATED INVES TMENTS THAT WILL BE 17
1212	1212	MADE TO IMPRO VE THE REUSE OF BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS , INCLUDING THE 18
1213	1213	SOURCE OF FUNDING FO R THE INVESTMENTS ; 19
1214	1214
1215	1215	(IV) LIST THE STAKEHOLDERS CONSULTED IN DEVELOP ING THE 20
1216	1216	PLAN; 21
1217	1217
1218	1218	(V) PROVIDE THE ANTICIPAT ED COSTS OF IMPLEMEN TING THE 22
1219	1219	PLAN FOR 5 YEARS, BROKEN DOWN BY YEAR ; 23
1220	1220
1221	1221	(VI) INCLUDE A CLOSURE AND TRANSFER PLAN FOR HA NDLING 24
1222	1222	THE AFFAIRS OF THE B EVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON THAT 25
1223	1223	ENSURES THAT EACH PR ODUCER INTENDED TO B E COVERED UNDER THE BEVERAGE 26
1224	1224	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN CAN FULFILL T HE PRODUCER ’S OBLIGATIONS IN 27
1225	1225	THE EVENT THAT THE B EVERAGE CONTAINER ST EWARDSHIP ORGANIZATI ON 28
1226	1226	DISSOLVES OR HAS ITS APPROVAL REVOKED UND ER § 9–1745 OF THIS SUBTITLE ; 29
1227	1227	AND 30
1228	1228
1229	1229	(VII) INCLUDE ANY OTHER INF ORMATION REQUESTED B Y THE 31
1230	1230	DEPARTMENT . 32 28 SENATE BILL 346
1231	1231
1232	1232
1233	1233
1234	1234	(3) THE FINANCING INFORMA TION INCLUDED IN A BEVERAGE 1
1235	1235	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN SHALL: 2
1236	1236
1237	1237	(I) EXPLAIN THE FINANCING FOR DIRECT INVESTMEN TS OR 3
1238	1238	REIMBURSEMENTS THAT WILL IMPROVE INFRAST RUCTURE IN A MANNER THAT 4
1239	1239	SUPPORTS REDEMPTION SERVICES AND TECHNOL OGIES; 5
1240	1240
1241	1241	(II) ESTABLISH A FEE STRUC TURE IN ACCOR DANCE WITH 6
1242	1242	PARAGRAPH (4) OF THIS SUBSECTION F OR PRODUCERS PARTICI PATING IN THE 7
1243	1243	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION; 8
1244	1244
1245	1245	(III) DESCRIBE THE COSTS OF MEETING THE PERFORMA NCE 9
1246	1246	TARGETS; 10
1247	1247
1248	1248	(IV) DESCRIBE THE INCENTIV ES USED TO ENCOURAGE 11
1249	1249	PRODUCERS TO : 12
1250	1250
1251	1251	1. INVEST IN REUSABLE AN D REFILLABLE BEVERAG E 13
1252	1252	CONTAINER SYSTEMS ; AND 14
1253	1253
1254	1254	2. REDESIGN BEVERAGE CON TAINERS TO BE EASIER 15
1255	1255	AND LESS COSTLY TO R ECYCLE; 16
1256	1256
1257	1257	(V) CREATE INCENTIVES FOR PRODUCERS TO USE A 17
1258	1258	MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE TO REDUCE FR AUDULENT REDEMP TION; 18
1259	1259
1260	1260	(VI) ESTABLISH A TRUST FUN D OR AN ESCROW ACCOU NT IN THE 19
1261	1261	STATE INTO WHICH THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION 20
1262	1262	SHALL DEPOSIT ALL UN EXPENDED FUNDS FOR U SE IN ACCORDANCE WIT H THIS 21
1263	1263	SECTION IN THE EVENT THAT THE BEVERAGE CO NTAINER STEWARDSH IP 22
1264	1264	ORGANIZATION DISSOLV ES OR HAS ITS APPROV AL REVOKED BY THE DEPARTMENT 23
1265	1265	UNDER § 9–1745 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 24
1266	1266
1267	1267	(VII) MEET ANY OTHER REQUIR EMENTS ESTABLISHED B Y THE 25
1268	1268	DEPARTMENT . 26
1269	1269
1270	1270	(4) (I) THE FEE STRUCTURE REQ UIRED UNDER PARAGRAP H (3) OF 27
1271	1271	THIS SUBSECTION F OR PRODUCERS PARTICI PATING IN THE BEVERA GE CONTAINER 28
1272	1272	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION SHALL BE: 29
1273	1273
1274	1274	1. SET IN A MANNER THAT COVERS THE COSTS OF 30
1275	1275	ADMINISTERING THE BE VERAGE CONTAINER STE WARDSHIP ORGANIZATIO N AND 31 SENATE BILL 346 29
1276	1276
1277	1277
1278	1278	IMPLEMENTING THE BEV ERAGE CONTAINER STEW ARDSHIP PLAN ; AND 1
1279	1279
1280	1280	2. BASED ON: 2
1281	1281
1282	1282	A. THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRANSPORTING , 3
1283	1283	COLLECTING, AND PROCESSING EACH TYPE OF REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE 4
1284	1284	CONTAINER MATERIAL ; 5
1285	1285
1286	1286	B. WHETHER A PRODUCER ’S REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 6
1287	1287	CONTAINERS ARE REFIL LABLE; 7
1288	1288
1289	1289	C. WHETHER A PRODUCER ’S EMPTY REDEEMABLE 8
1290	1290	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ARE EASY TO RECYCLE ; 9
1291	1291
1292	1292	D. WHETHER A PRODUCER ’S REDEEMABLE BEVERAG E 10
1293	1293	CONTAINERS HAVE A MARYLAND–SPECIFIC UPC BARCODE; 11
1294	1294
1295	1295	E. A PRODUCER’S PORTION, BY MATERIAL TYPE , OF 12
1296	1296	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN T HE STATE DURING THE PREVIOUS 13
1297	1297	CALENDAR YEAR ; AND 14
1298	1298
1299	1299	F. ANY OTHER FACTOR THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES 15
1300	1300	IS NECESSARY TO SUPP ORT THE PROGRAM. 16
1301	1301
1302	1302	(II) 1. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN § 9–1745(C)(2) OF THIS 17
1303	1303	SUBTITLE, A PRODUCER PARTICIPA TING IN THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER 18
1304	1304	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION SHALL P AY THE FEE ESTABLISH ED UNDER 19
1305	1305	PARAGRAPH (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION T O THE BEVERAGE CONTA INER STEWARDSHIP 20
1306	1306	ORGANIZATION . 21
1307	1307
1308	1308	2. THE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R STEWARDSHIP 22
1309	1309	ORGANIZATION SHALL D EPOSIT FEES RECEIVED UNDER THIS SUBPARAGR APH TO AN 23
1310	1310	ACCOUNT HELD BY THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P ORGANIZATION . 24
1311	1311
1312	1312	3. THE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R STEWARDSHIP 25
1313	1313	ORGANIZATION MAY USE THE FEES RECEIVED UN DER THIS SUBPARAGRAP H ONLY 26
1314	1314	FOR IMPLEMENTING THE BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN . 27
1315	1315
1316	1316	(5) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL S UBMIT A BEVERAGE CON TAINER 28
1317	1317	STEWARDSHIP PLAN TO AN INDEPENDENT FINAN CIAL AUDITOR TO ENSU RE THAT 29
1318	1318	THE FINANCING PROPOS ED IN THE PLAN WILL COVER THE COSTS OF I MPLEMENTING 30
1319	1319	THE PLAN. 31
1320	1320	30 SENATE BILL 346
1321	1321
1322	1322
1323	1323	(B) (1) (I) WITHIN 120 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT O F A BEVERAGE 1
1324	1324	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN SUBMITTED TO TH E DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS 2
1325	1325	SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL APPR OVE, APPROVE WITH CONDITI ONS, OR 3
1326	1326	DENY THE PLAN . 4
1327	1327
1328	1328	(II) IN DETERMINING WHETHE R TO APPROVE , APPROVE WITH 5
1329	1329	CONDITIONS, OR DENY A BEVERAGE C ONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN, THE 6
1330	1330	DEPARTMEN T SHALL: 7
1331	1331
1332	1332	1. CONSIDER WHETHER : 8
1333	1333
1334	1334	A. THE PLAN COMPLIES WIT H THE REQUIREMENTS O F 9
1335	1335	THIS SECTION; AND 10
1336	1336
1337	1337	B. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT ENGAGEMENT WITH 11
1338	1338	STAKEHOLDERS , INCLUDING LOCAL GOVE RNMENTS, RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS , 12
1339	1339	AND ON–PREMISES SELLERS , IN DEVELOPING THE PLAN; AND 13
1340	1340
1341	1341	2. CONSULT WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. 14
1342	1342
1343	1343	(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT MAY RESCIN D APPROVAL OF A 15
1344	1344	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN FOR GOOD CAUSE. 16
1345	1345
1346	1346	(II) THE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R STEWARDSHIP ORGANI ZATION 17
1347	1347	MAY AMEND A RESCINDE D BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER STEWARDSHIP PLAN AND SUBMIT 18
1348	1348	THE AMENDED PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROV AL. 19
1349	1349
1350	1350	(3) (I) A BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN APPR OVED 20
1351	1351	BY THE DEPARTMENT MAY BE AME NDED WITH APPROVAL O F THE DEPARTMENT . 21
1352	1352
1353	1353	(II) THE DEPARTMENT MAY REQUIR E THAT AN APPROVED 22
1354	1354	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP PLAN BE A MENDED IF THE REPORT 23
1355	1355	SUBMITTED UNDER § 9–1747 OF THIS SUBTITLE REF LECTS THAT THE 24
1356	1356	PERFORMANCE TARGETS HAVE NOT BEEN MET . 25
1357	1357
1358	1358	(C) AN APPROVED BEVERAGE CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN EXPIRES AT 26
1359	1359	THE END OF 5 YEARS. 27
1360	1360
1361	1361	(D) (1) THE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R STEWARDSHIP ORGANI ZATION 28
1362	1362	SHALL IMPLEMENT AND ADMINISTER A BEVERAG E CONTAINER STEWARDS HIP PLAN 29
1363	1363	WITHIN 6 MONTHS AFTER THE PLA N IS APPROVED. 30
1364	1364
1365	1365	(2) IN IMPLEMENTING AND A DMINISTERING A BEVER AGE CONTAINER 31 SENATE BILL 346 31
1366	1366
1367	1367
1368	1368	STEWARDSHIP PLAN , THE BEVERAGE CO NTAINER STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION 1
1369	1369	SHALL: 2
1370	1370
1371	1371	(I) FACILITATE LOGISTICS , THE INITIATION OF DE POSITS, AND 3
1372	1372	THE ISSUANCE OF REFU NDS UNDER THE PLAN ; 4
1373	1373
1374	1374	(II) COORDINATE THE LOGIST ICS FOR TIMELY COLLE CTION OF 5
1375	1375	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS FROM AN O N–PREMISES SELL ER; 6
1376	1376
1377	1377	(III) ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR TRACKING REDEEMA BLE 7
1378	1378	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE; 8
1379	1379
1380	1380	(IV) DESIGN AND OPERATE SE RVICES FOR THE 9
1381	1381	TRANSPORTATION AND P ROCESSING OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS; 10
1382	1382
1383	1383	(V) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR ESTABLI SHING, 11
1384	1384	OPERATING, AND MANAGING REDEMPT ION FACILITIES THAT WILL OFFER A WIDE 12
1385	1385	RANGE OF CONVENIENT REDEMPTION LOCATIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES THA T ARE 13
1386	1386	EASY TO USE, ACCESSIBLE, AND MEET OR EXCEED T HE CONVENIENCE STAND ARDS 14
1387	1387	ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1751 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 15
1388	1388
1389	1389	(VI) DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN FOR THE DISTR IBUTION, 16
1390	1390	OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF B EVERAGE CONTAINER RE DEMPTION AND 17
1391	1391	PROCESSING METHODS , INCLUDING REVERSE VE NDING MACHINES , BAG DROP 18
1392	1392	PROGRAMS, AND ACCOUNT –BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAMS; 19
1393	1393
1394	1394	(VII) DEVELOP ACCOUNTING AN D CONTROL STANDARDS ; 20
1395	1395
1396	1396	(VIII) IMPLEMENT ACCOUNTING , AUDIT, PAYMENT, AND 21
1397	1397	REPORTING PROCEDURES ; 22
1398	1398
1399	1399	(IX) ESTABLISH A HIGH –VOLUME VALIDATION AN D AUDIT 23
1400	1400	SYSTEM TO PAY A BULK RATE TO AN ON–PREMISES SELLER FOR THE REDEMP TION 24
1401	1401	OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 25
1402	1402
1403	1403	(X) ESTABLISH AN APPLICAT ION PROCESS FOR LARG E 26
1404	1404	ON–PREMISES SELLERS TO APPLY FOR AND RECEIV E A BULK RATE FOR TH E 27
1405	1405	REDEMPTION OF HIGH V OLUMES OF EMPTY REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINERS; 28
1406	1406
1407	1407	(XI) MARKET REDEEMABL E BEVERAGE CONTAINER MATERIALS 29
1408	1408	FOR REUSE IN THE MAN UFACTURING OF SIMILA R PRODUCTS; 30
1409	1409
1410	1410	(XII) FUND A MARKETING PROG RAM TO EDUCATE THE P UBLIC 31 32 SENATE BILL 346
1411	1411
1412	1412
1413	1413	ABOUT THE PROGRAM; 1
1414	1414
1415	1415	(XIII) ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FO R REPORTING KEY INFO RMATION 2
1416	1416	GATHERED BY THE PROGRAM TO THE DEPARTMENT ON A QUARTERLY BASIS; AND 3
1417	1417
1418	1418	(XIV) CREATE INCENTIVES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF 4
1419	1419	REFILLABLE AND REUSA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER SYSTEMS. 5
1420	1420
1421	1421	(3) ON REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT , THE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER 6
1422	1422	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION SHALL SUBMIT A COPY OF ITS FINANCIA L RECORDS 7
1423	1423	TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR A FINA NCIAL AUDIT. 8
1424	1424
1425	1425	9–1747. 9
1426	1426
1427	1427	(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP 10
1428	1428	ORGANIZATION THAT HA S A BEVERAGE CONTAIN ER STEWARDSHIP PLAN APPROVED 11
1429	1429	BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 12
1430	1430
1431	1431	(B) (1) ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2029, THE 13
1432	1432	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION SHALL SUBMIT A R EPORT TO 14
1433	1433	THE DEPARTMENT ON THE PRO GRESS MADE IN THE PR ECEDING CALENDAR YEA R 15
1434	1434	TOWARD MEETING THE P ERFORMANCE TARGETS A ND THE GOALS OF THE PROGRAM 16
1435	1435	AND THE BEVERAGE CON TAINER STEWARDSHIP O RGANIZATION’S BEVERAGE 17
1436	1436	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN. 18
1437	1437
1438	1438	(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE THE ADVISORY COUNCIL 19
1439	1439	WITH A COPY OF EACH REPORT SUBMITTED UND ER THIS SUBSECTION . 20
1440	1440
1441	1441	(C) THE REPORT SUBMITTED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION 21
1442	1442	SHALL INCLUDE , FOR THE PRECEDING CA LENDAR YEAR : 22
1443	1443
1444	1444	(1) THE PROGRESS MADE TOW ARD ACHIEVING THE PE RFORMANCE 23
1445	1445	TARGETS; 24
1446	1446
1447	1447	(2) IF THE PERFORMANCE TA RGETS WERE NOT ACHIE VED, A 25
1448	1448	DESCRIPTION OF THE A CTIONS PROPOSED TO A CHIEVE THE PERFORMAN CE 26
1449	1449	TARGETS; 27
1450	1450
1451	1451	(3) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD IN 28
1452	1452	THE STATE; 29
1453	1453
1454	1454	(4) THE NUMBER OF REDEEMA BLE BEVERAGE CONTAIN ERS SOLD IN 30
1455	1455	THE STATE SORTED BY MATER IAL TYPE, REFUND VALUE , AND WHETHER THE 31 SENATE BILL 346 33
1456	1456
1457	1457
1458	1458	CONTAINER CAN BE REF ILLED OR REUSED ; 1
1459	1459
1460	1460	(5) THE NUMBER OF EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEV ERAGE CONTAINERS 2
1461	1461	REDEEMED ; 3
1462	1462
1463	1463	(6) THE NUMBER OF EMPTY R EDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS 4
1464	1464	REDEEMED AT EACH RED EMPTION FACILITY , REVERSE VENDING MACH INE, BAG 5
1465	1465	DROP PROGRAM , ACCOUNT–BASED BULK PROCESSIN G PROGRAM , OR OTHER 6
1466	1466	BEVERAGE CONTAINER R EDEMPTION AND PROCESSI NG METHOD SORTED BY 7
1467	1467	MATERIAL TYPE , REFUND VALUE , AND WHETHER THE EMPT Y REDEEMABLE 8
1468	1468	BEVERAGE CONTAINER C AN BE REFILLED OR RE USED; 9
1469	1469
1470	1470	(7) THE REDEMPTION RATE A ND RECYCLING RATE FO R 10
1471	1471	NONREFILLABLE REDEEM ABLE BEVERAGE CONTAI NERS SOLD IN THE STATE 11
1472	1472	SORTED BY MATERIAL T YPE, NUMBER OF CONTAINERS SOLD, AND CONTAINER 12
1473	1473	WEIGHT; 13
1474	1474
1475	1475	(8) THE AMOUNT OF EACH TY PE OF: 14
1476	1476
1477	1477	(I) REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER MATERIAL 15
1478	1478	COLLECTED IN THE STATE; AND 16
1479	1479
1480	1480	(II) SCRAP MATERIAL SOLD B Y THE BEVERAGE CONTA INER 17
1481	1481	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZATION ; 18
1482	1482
1483	1483	(9) THE LOCATION OF EACH REDEMPTION FACILITY IN THE STATE 19
1484	1484	AND THE REDEMPTION M ETHOD USED AT EACH R EDEMPTION FACILITY ; 20
1485	1485
1486	1486	(10) A DESCRIPTION OF ANY I MPROVEMENTS MADE TO MAKE 21
1487	1487	RETURNING EMPTY REDE EMABLE BEVERAGE CONT AINERS EASIER AND MO RE 22
1488	1488	CONVENIENT; 23
1489	1489
1490	1490	(11) THE IDENTIFICATION AN D DESCRIPTION OF ARE AS THAT DO NOT 24
1491	1491	HAVE READILY AVAILAB LE OPTIONS FOR REDEE MING AN EMPTY REDEEM ABLE 25
1492	1492	BEVERAGE CONTAINER A ND ACTIONS THE BEVER AGE CONTAINER STEWAR DSHIP 26
1493	1493	ORGANIZATION WILL TA KE TO IMPROVE OPTION S IN THESE AREAS; 27
1494	1494
1495	1495	(12) THE NUMBER OF CONSUME R COMPLAINTS PER MON TH, SORTED 28
1496	1496	BY REDEMPTION FACILI TY; 29
1497	1497
1498	1498	(13) THE NUMBER AND TYPE O F COMPLAINTS FROM ON –PREMISES 30
1499	1499	SELLERS PER MONTH , SORTED BY TYPE OF BU SINESS; 31
1500	1500	34 SENATE BILL 346
1501	1501
1502	1502
1503	1503	(14) THE NUMBER OF INDIVID UALS AND ORGANIZATIO NS WITH 1
1504	1504	ACCOUNTS ESTABLISHED F OR THE RECEIPT OF EL ECTRONIC DEPOSITS OR 2
1505	1505	REFUNDS; 3
1506	1506
1507	1507	(15) THE TOTAL COST OF IMP LEMENTING THE BEVERA GE CONTAINER 4
1508	1508	STEWARDSHIP PLAN , AS DETERMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIA L AUDITOR 5
1509	1509	UNDER § 9–1746(A)(5) OF THIS SUBTITLE; 6
1510	1510
1511	1511	(16) THE AVERA GE COST OF PROCESSIN G AN EMPTY REDEEMED 7
1512	1512	REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER; 8
1513	1513
1514	1514	(17) A COPY OF THE AUDIT CO NDUCTED UNDER § 9–1746(A)(5) OF 9
1515	1515	THIS SUBTITLE; 10
1516	1516
1517	1517	(18) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DETAILING ALL DEPOSI TS RECEIVED 11
1518	1518	AND REFUNDS ISSUED B Y EACH PRODUCER COVE RED UND ER THE BEVERAGE 12
1519	1519	CONTAINER STEWARDSHI P PLAN; 13
1520	1520
1521	1521	(19) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF D EPOSITS INITIATED , REFUNDS ISSUED , 14
1522	1522	AND UNCLAIMED DEPOSI TS COLLECTED UNDER T HE BEVERAGE CONTAINE R 15
1523	1523	STEWARDSHIP PLAN ; 16
1524	1524
1525	1525	(20) AN ACCOUNTING OF ALL ACTIVITIES AND INVES TMENTS 17
1526	1526	FINANCED BY UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS ; 18
1527	1527
1528	1528	(21) EXPENDITURES AND REVE NUES SORTED BY SOURC E, INCLUDING 19
1529	1529	FEES PAID UNDER § 9–1746(A)(4) OF THIS SUBTITLE , REVENUE FROM THE SAL E OF 20
1530	1530	SCRAP MATERIALS , AND UNCLAIMED DEPOSI TS; 21
1531	1531
1532	1532	(22) SAMPLES OF ALL EDUCAT IONAL MATERIALS PROV IDED TO 22
1533	1533	CONSUMERS, RETAILERS, AND OTHER ENTITIES ; 23
1534	1534
1535	1535	(23) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVESTMENTS MADE IN NEW 24
1536	1536	REDEMPTION FACILITIE S AND REDEMPTION MET HODS; 25
1537	1537
1538	1538	(24) THE LOCATION OF NEW R EDEMPTION FACILITIES AND 26
1539	1539	REDEMPTION METHODS ; 27
1540	1540
1541	1541	(25) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CHANGES MADE BY PROD UCERS TO 28
1542	1542	INCREASE THE RECYCLA BILITY OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 29
1543	1543
1544	1544	(26) A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ANY INCIDENTS OF FRAUD AND 30
1545	1545	EFFORTS TAKEN TO PRE VENT FRAUD; AND 31 SENATE BILL 346 35
1546	1546
1547	1547
1548	1548
1549	1549	(27) ANY OTHER INFORMATION REQUIRED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 1
1550	1550
1551	1551	(D) THE FINANCIAL, PRODUCTION , AND SALES DATA OF IN DIVIDUAL 2
1552	1552	PRODUCERS REPORTED T O THE DEPARTMENT UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE 3
1553	1553	KEPT CONFIDENTIAL BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. 4
1554	1554
1555	1555	(E) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL POST THE REPORT SUBMITTED UNDER THIS 5
1556	1556	SECTION ON TH E DEPARTMENT ’S WEBSITE IN A MANNE R THAT PROTECTS THE 6
1557	1557	CONFIDENTIALITY OF T HE DATA SPECIFIED UN DER SUBSECTION (D) OF THIS 7
1558	1558	SECTION. 8
1559	1559
1560	1560	9–1748. 9
1561	1561
1562	1562	(A) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH A PROCESS FOR A COUNTY OR 10
1563	1563	MUNICIPAL CORPORATIO N TO CREATE A REDEMP TION FACILITY. 11
1564	1564
1565	1565	(B) EMPTY REDEEMABLE BEVE RAGE CONTAINERS REDE EMED AT A 12
1566	1566	REDEMPTION FACILITY MANAGED BY A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORA TION 13
1567	1567	SHALL BE CREDITED TO WARD MEETING THE REC YCLING RATES REQUIRE D UNDER § 14
1568	1568	9–505 OF THIS TITLE. 15
1569	1569
1570	1570	(C) (1) THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2030, A PORTION OF PROGRAM 16
1571	1571	REVENUES SHALL BE US ED TO COMPENSATE A C OUNTY OR MUNICIPAL 17
1572	1572	CORPORATION FOR ANY NET LOSS OF REVENUE TO THE COUNTY ’S OR MUNICIPAL 18
1573	1573	CORPORATION ’S WASTE MANAGEMENT S YSTEM THAT CAN BE DO CUMENTED AND 19
1574	1574	ATTRIBUTED TO THE PROGRAM. 20
1575	1575
1576	1576	(2) IN DETERMI NING A NET LOSS OF R EVENUE, A COUNTY OR 21
1577	1577	MUNICIPAL CORPORATIO N SHALL CONSIDER : 22
1578	1578
1579	1579	(I) THE LOSS OF REVENUE F ROM THE SALE OF SCRA P 23
1580	1580	MATERIALS; 24
1581	1581
1582	1582	(II) FINANCIAL SAVINGS FRO M A REDUCTION IN : 25
1583	1583
1584	1584	1. GLASS BOTTLES IN THE RECYCLING STREAM ; 26
1585	1585
1586	1586	2. TRANSPORTATION COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH 27
1587	1587	CURBSIDE COLLECTION OF TRASH AND RECYCLI NG; 28
1588	1588
1589	1589	3. PROCESSING COSTS ASSO CIATED WITH RECYCLIN G 29
1590	1590	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ; 30 36 SENATE BILL 346
1591	1591
1592	1592
1593	1593
1594	1594	4. THE COSTS OF LANDFILL ING AND INCINERATING 1
1595	1595	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS THAT ARE NOT RECYCLE D; AND 2
1596	1596
1597	1597	5. THE COSTS OF LITTER C OLLECTION; AND 3
1598	1598
1599	1599	(III) FOR A COUNTY OR MUNIC IPAL CORPORATION THA T HAS A 4
1600	1600	TOTAL MAXIMUM DAILY LOAD FOR TRASH IN A WATERWAY UNDER ITS 5
1601	1601	JURISDICTION, THE REDUCED COSTS AN D INCREASED BENEFITS OF COMPLYING 6
1602	1602	WITH THE TOTAL MAXIM UM DAILY LOA D DUE TO A REDUCTION IN BEVERAGE 7
1603	1603	CONTAINER LITTER . 8
1604	1604
1605	1605	9–1749. 9
1606	1606
1607	1607	FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM SHALL : 10
1608	1608
1609	1609	(1) INCLUDE: 11
1610	1610
1611	1611	(I) REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE C ONTAINER STEWARDSHIP 12
1612	1612	ORGANIZATION FEES CO LLECTED UNDER § 9–1746 OF THIS SUBTITLE; 13
1613	1613
1614	1614	(II) REVENUE FROM THE SALE OF RAW MATERIALS; 14
1615	1615
1616	1616	(III) UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS CO LLECTED UNDER § 9–1743 OF 15
1617	1617	THIS SUBTITLE; 16
1618	1618
1619	1619	(IV) REGISTRATION FEES COL LECTED UNDER § 9–1744 OF THIS 17
1620	1620	SUBTITLE; AND 18
1621	1621
1622	1622	(V) PENALTIES COLLECTED U NDER § 9–1754 OF THIS 19
1623	1623	SUBTITLE; AND 20
1624	1624
1625	1625	(2) BE USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH §§ 9–1707(F), 9–1743, 9–1744, 21
1626	1626	AND 9–1754 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 22
1627	1627
1628	1628	9–1750. 23
1629	1629
1630	1630	(A) THERE IS A BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING REFUND GRANT 24
1631	1631	PROGRAM. 25
1632	1632
1633	1633	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE GRANT PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING: 26
1634	1634
1635	1635	(1) FOR AN EVALUATION OF THE INVESTMENTS AND POLICIES 27 SENATE BILL 346 37
1636	1636
1637	1637
1638	1638	NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT, BY DECEMBER 31, 2035, AT LEAST 10% OF ALL 1
1639	1639	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS SOLD IN THE STATE ARE RETURNED AN D REFILLED; AND 2
1640	1640
1641	1641	(2) FOR PROJECTS THAT : 3
1642	1642
1643	1643	(I) INCREASE THE REUSE AN D RECYCLING OF BEVER AGE 4
1644	1644	CONTAINERS IN THE STATE; 5
1645	1645
1646	1646	(II) INCREASE THE AVAILABIL ITY OF PUBLIC WATER 6
1647	1647	FOUNTAINS AND REFILL STATIONS IN THE STATE; AND 7
1648	1648
1649	1649	(III) REDUCE THE VOLUME OF LITTER FROM BEVERAGE 8
1650	1650	CONTAINERS IN THE STATE. 9
1651	1651
1652	1652	(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADMI NISTER THE GRANT PROGRAM. 10
1653	1653
1654	1654	(D) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE GRANT 11
1655	1655	PROGRAM SHALL BE FUND ED FROM A PORTION OF THE UNCLAIMED DEPOSI TS 12
1656	1656	TRANSFERRED TO THE S EPARATE ACCOUNT ESTA BLISHED UNDER § 9–1707(F)(7) OF 13
1657	1657	THIS SUBTITLE. 14
1658	1658
1659	1659	(2) THE GRANT PROGRAM MAY AWARD UP TO $5,000,000 IN GRANTS 15
1660	1660	EACH YEAR F ROM THE UNCLAIMED DE POSITS TRANSFERRED T O THE SEPARATE 16
1661	1661	ACCOUNT ESTABLISHED UNDER § 9–1707(F)(7) OF THIS SUBTITLE. 17
1662	1662
1663	1663	(E) THE FOLLOWING ENTITIE S ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT UNDER THE 18
1664	1664	GRANT PROGRAM: 19
1665	1665
1666	1666	(1) A SCHOOL OR AN INSTITU TION OF HIGHER EDUCA TION; 20
1667	1667
1668	1668	(2) A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATI ON; 21
1669	1669
1670	1670	(3) A COUNTY OR MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ; 22
1671	1671
1672	1672	(4) A FOR–PROFIT ORGANIZATION ; AND 23
1673	1673
1674	1674	(5) A PUBLIC–PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP . 24
1675	1675
1676	1676	(F) THE DEPARTMENT , IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL, 25
1677	1677	SHALL ADOPT REGULATI ONS ESTABLISHING : 26
1678	1678
1679	1679	(1) AN APPLICATION PROCESS FOR AN ENTITY TO APP LY FOR A 27
1680	1680	GRANT; 28 38 SENATE BILL 346
1681	1681
1682	1682
1683	1683
1684	1684	(2) THE CRITERIA FOR EVAL UATING AND AWARDING GRANTS; 1
1685	1685
1686	1686	(3) REPORTING AND EVALUAT ION REQUIREMENTS FOR A GRANT 2
1687	1687	AWARDED UNDER THIS S ECTION; AND 3
1688	1688
1689	1689	(4) ANY OTHER REQUIREMENT S THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES 4
1690	1690	ARE NECESSARY FOR AD MINISTERING AND IMPL EMENTING GRANTS AWAR DED 5
1691	1691	UNDER THE GRANT PROGRAM. 6
1692	1692
1693	1693	(G) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BEGI N AWARDING GRANTS ON OR BEFORE 7
1694	1694	JANUARY 1, 2029. 8
1695	1695
1696	1696	9–1751. 9
1697	1697
1698	1698	IN ADDITION TO THE DU TIES AND REQUIREMENT S SPECIFIED IN THIS PART, 10
1699	1699	THE DEPARTMENT SHALL : 11
1700	1700
1701	1701	(1) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ADVISORY COUNCIL: 12
1702	1702
1703	1703	(I) ESTABLISH CONVENIENCE STANDARDS FOR THE CO VERAGE 13
1704	1704	AND AVAILABILITY OF REDEMPTION OPTIONS A CROSS THE STATE; AND 14
1705	1705
1706	1706	(II) ENSURE THE CONVENIENC E STANDARDS PROVIDE 15
1707	1707	ACCESSIBLE REDEMPTIO N OPTIONS FOR DIFFEREN TLY ABLED PEOPLE AND PEOPLE 16
1708	1708	WHO LIVE IN RURAL AR EAS OR LOW–INCOME COMMUNITIES O F COLOR; 17
1709	1709
1710	1710	(2) ESTABLISH A SYSTEM FO R LARGE ON –PREMISES SELLERS TO 18
1711	1711	VERIFY THE SOURCE OF THE HIGH VOLUMES OF REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 19
1712	1712	CONTAINERS REDEEMED BY THE ON–PREMISES SELLER ; AND 20
1713	1713
1714	1714	(3) PERIODICALLY REVIEW A VAILABLE BEVERAGE CO NTAINER 21
1715	1715	REDEMPTION AND PROCE SSING METHODS TO DET ERMINE WHETHER THE T YPES OF 22
1716	1716	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS COVERED UNDER THE PROGRAM SHOULD BE EXP ANDED. 23
1717	1717
1718	1718	9–1752. 24
1719	1719
1720	1720	(A) THERE IS A REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE CONTAINER RECYCLING 25
1721	1721	REFUND ADVISORY COUNCIL. 26
1722	1722
1723	1723	(B) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL CONSISTS OF T HE FOLLOWING MEMBERS , 27
1724	1724	DESIGNATED BY THE SECRETARY: 28
1725	1725	SENATE BILL 346 39
1726	1726
1727	1727
1728	1728	(1) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG RECYCLING PROCESS ORS; 1
1729	1729
1730	1730	(2) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 2
1731	1731	RESPONSIBLE FOR RECYCLING P ROGRAMS; 3
1732	1732
1733	1733	(3) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG GLASS MANUFACTURE RS OR A 4
1734	1734	GLASS MANUFACTURING TRADE ORGANIZATION ; 5
1735	1735
1736	1736	(4) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG ALUMINUM MANUFACT URERS OR 6
1737	1737	AN ALUMINUM MANUFACT URING TRADE ORGANIZA TION; 7
1738	1738
1739	1739	(5) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG PLASTIC MANUFACTU RERS OR A 8
1740	1740	PLASTIC MANUFACTURIN G TRADE ORGANIZATION ; 9
1741	1741
1742	1742	(6) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG BEVERAGE COMPANIE S; 10
1743	1743
1744	1744	(7) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG PURCHASERS OF REC YCLED 11
1745	1745	CONTENT; 12
1746	1746
1747	1747	(8) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG RETAILERS; 13
1748	1748
1749	1749	(9) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG RESTAURANTS OR OT HER 14
1750	1750	ON–PREMISES SELLERS ; 15
1751	1751
1752	1752	(10) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG REVERSE VENDING M ACHINE 16
1753	1753	BUSINESSES; 17
1754	1754
1755	1755	(11) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG ACCOUNT –BASED BULK 18
1756	1756	PROCESSORS ; 19
1757	1757
1758	1758	(12) ONE MEMBER REPRESENTI NG BUSINESSES INVOLV ED IN REUSE 20
1759	1759	AND REFILL SYSTEMS ; 21
1760	1760
1761	1761	(13) AT LEAST ONE MEMBER R EPRESENTING AN ENVIR ONMENTAL 22
1762	1762	ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIO N; 23
1763	1763
1764	1764	(14) AT LEAST ONE MEMBER R EPRESENTING AN ENVIR ONMENTAL 24
1765	1765	JUSTICE ADVOCACY ORG ANIZATION; AND 25
1766	1766
1767	1767	(15) AT LEAST TWO MEMBERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF T HE GENERAL 26
1768	1768	PUBLIC AND RESIDE IN THE STATE. 27
1769	1769
1770	1770	(C) THE SECRETARY SHALL DESIG NATE TWO COCHAIRS FR OM AMONG THE 28 40 SENATE BILL 346
1771	1771
1772	1772
1773	1773	MEMBERSHIP OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL. 1
1774	1774
1775	1775	(D) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE STAFF FOR THE ADVISORY 2
1776	1776	COUNCIL. 3
1777	1777
1778	1778	(E) A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COUNCIL: 4
1779	1779
1780	1780	(1) MAY NOT R ECEIVE COMPENSATION AS A MEMBER OF THE 5
1781	1781	ADVISORY COUNCIL; BUT 6
1782	1782
1783	1783	(2) IS ENTITLED TO REIMBU RSEMENT FOR EXPENSES UNDER THE 7
1784	1784	STANDARD STATE TRAVEL REGULATIONS, AS PROVIDED IN THE STATE BUDGET . 8
1785	1785
1786	1786	(F) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL MEET : 9
1787	1787
1788	1788	(1) AT LEAST QUARTERLY EACH YEAR; AND 10
1789	1789
1790	1790	(2) AS REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT . 11
1791	1791
1792	1792	(G) THE ADVISORY COUNCIL SHALL: 12
1793	1793
1794	1794	(1) ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON DETERMI NING WHETHER TO 13
1795	1795	APPROVE A BEVERAGE C ONTAINER STEWARDSHIP PLAN; 14
1796	1796
1797	1797	(2) MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT ON THE 15
1798	1798	IMPLEMENTATION OF AP PROVED BEVERAGE CONT AINER STEWARDSHIP PL ANS; 16
1799	1799
1800	1800	(3) REVIEW AND ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON THE ANN UAL 17
1801	1801	REPORTS SUBMITTED UN DER § 9–1747 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 18
1802	1802
1803	1803	(4) ADVISE THE DEPARTMENT ON THE IMP LEMENTATION , 19
1804	1804	ADMINISTRATION , AND PERFORMANC E OF THE PROGRAM. 20
1805	1805
1806	1806	9–1753. 21
1807	1807
1808	1808	(A) ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1, 2026, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T 22
1809	1809	REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS PART. 23
1810	1810
1811	1811	(B) THE DEPARTMENT MAY EXPAND THE TYPES OF BEVERAG E CONTAINERS 24
1812	1812	COVERED UNDER THE PROGRAM BY REGULATION IF, BASED ON ITS REVIEW UNDER 25
1813	1813	§ 9–1751(3) OF THIS SUBTITLE , THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THERE ARE 26
1814	1814	CONVENIENT REDEMPTIO N OPTIONS FOR THOSE BEVERAGE CONTAINERS . 27
1815	1815	SENATE BILL 346 41
1816	1816
1817	1817
1818	1818	9–1754. 1
1819	1819
1820	1820	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTIONS (C) AND (D) OF THIS SECTION , 2
1821	1821	THE PROVISIONS OF §§ 9–334 THROUGH 9–344 OF THIS TITLE APPLY TO ENFOR CE 3
1822	1822	VIOLATIONS OF THIS P ART. 4
1823	1823
1824	1824	(B) A PENALTY MAY NOT BE I MPOSED ON A PRODUCER FOR FAILING TO 5
1825	1825	PROPERLY REGISTER WI TH THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 9–1744 OF THIS SUBTITLE , 6
1826	1826	INCLUDING FAILING TO IDENTIFY EACH BRAND OF REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 7
1827	1827	CONTAINER THAT THE PRODUCER IN TENDS TO SELL , OFFER FOR SALE , OR 8
1828	1828	DISTRIBUTE IN THE STATE, UNLESS: 9
1829	1829
1830	1830	(1) THE DEPARTMENT FIRST ISSU ES A WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE 10
1831	1831	VIOLATION TO THE PRO DUCER; AND 11
1832	1832
1833	1833	(2) THE PRODUCER DOES NOT REGISTER WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER 12
1834	1834	RECEIVING THE WRITTEN NOTICE . 13
1835	1835
1836	1836	(C) (1) A PERSON MAY NOT REDEE M, ATTEMPT TO REDEEM , RECEIVE, 14
1837	1837	STORE, TRANSPORT, DISTRIBUTE, OR OTHERWISE FACILIT ATE OR AID IN THE 15
1838	1838	REDEMPTION OF THE FO LLOWING MATERIALS WI TH AN INTENT TO DEFR AUD: 16
1839	1839
1840	1840	(I) AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAIN ER THAT WAS 17
1841	1841	SOLD IN ANOTHER STAT E; 18
1842	1842
1843	1843	(II) AN EMPTY REDEEMABLE B EVERAGE CONTAINER TH AT WAS 19
1844	1844	REJECTED FOR REDEMPT ION; 20
1845	1845
1846	1846	(III) LINE BREAKAGE ; 21
1847	1847
1848	1848	(IV) A PREVIOUSLY REDEEMED REDEEMABLE BEVERAGE 22
1849	1849	CONTAINER; OR 23
1850	1850
1851	1851	(V) ANOTHER INELIGIBLE MA TERIAL. 24
1852	1852
1853	1853	(2) A PERSON MAY NOT DISPOSE OF A REDEEMED REDEEM ABLE 25
1854	1854	BEVERAGE CONTAINER I N A LANDFILL OR AN I NCINERATOR . 26
1855	1855
1856	1856	(3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ESTA BLISH ADMINISTRATIVE 27
1857	1857	PENALTIES FOR A VIOL ATION OF THIS SUBSEC TION THAT ARE BASED ON THE 28
1858	1858	NUMBER OF BEVERAGE C ONTAINERS AND REFUN D AMOUNTS INVOLVED . 29
1859	1859
1860	1860	(D) (1) BEGINNING JANUARY 1, 2031, IF THE BEVERAGE CONT AINER 30 42 SENATE BILL 346
1861	1861
1862	1862
1863	1863	STEWARDSHIP ORGANIZA TION HAS NOT MET THE REDEMPTION RATES 1
1864	1864	ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1740 OF THIS SUBTITLE FOR THE IMMEDIATELY PREC EDING 2 2
1865	1865	YEARS, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ASSE SS AN ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY O N THE 3
1866	1866	BEVERAGE CONTAINER S TEWARDSHIP ORGANIZAT ION. 4
1867	1867
1868	1868	(2) EACH YEAR THAT THE BE VERAGE CONTAINER STE WARDSHIP 5
1869	1869	ORGANIZATION DOES NO T MEET THE REDEMPTIO N RATES ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1740 6
1870	1870	OF THIS SUBTITLE IS A SEPARATE VIOLATION UNDER THIS SUBS ECTION. 7
1871	1871
1872	1872	(3) AN ADMINISTRATIVE PEN ALTY ASSESSED UNDER THIS 8
1873	1873	SUBSECTION SHALL EQU AL THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REDEEMABLE BEVERA GE 9
1874	1874	CONTAINERS NEEDED TO BE REDEEMED TO MEET THE REDEMPTION RATES 10
1875	1875	ESTABLISHED IN § 9–1740 OF THIS SUBTITLE, MINUS THE NUMBER OF REDEEMAB LE 11
1876	1876	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS ACTUALLY REDEEMED , MULTIPLIED BY THE RE FUND 12
1877	1877	VALUE IN EFFECT AT T HE TIME THE VIOLATIO N OCCURRED . 13
1878	1878
1879	1879	(E) THE DEPARTMENT MAY ALTER THE ADMINISTRATIVE P ENALTIES 14
1880	1880	ASSESSED UNDER SUBSE CTIONS (C) AND (D) OF THIS SECTION AS N ECESSARY TO 15
1881	1881	ENSURE THAT THE PENALTY AMO UNTS ASSESSED EXCEED THE COSTS OF 16
1882	1882	COMPLYING WITH THIS PART. 17
1883	1883
1884	1884	(F) PENALTIES COLLECTED U NDER THIS SECTION SH ALL BE: 18
1885	1885
1886	1886	(1) TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE RECYCLING TRUST FUND UNDER § 19
1887	1887	9–1707(F) OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 20
1888	1888
1889	1889	(2) USED ONLY TO COVER T HE DEPARTMENT ’S COSTS OF PLANNING, 21
1890	1890	IMPLEMENTING , ADMINISTERING , MONITORING , ENFORCING, AND EVALUATING 22
1891	1891	THE PROGRAM. 23
1892	1892
1893	1893	9–1755. 24
1894	1894
1895	1895	ANY PERSON PARTICIPAT ING IN A BEVERAGE CO NTAINER STEWARDSHIP 25
1896	1896	PLAN IN ACCORDANCE W ITH THIS SUBTITLE IS IMMUNE FROM LIABILIT Y UNDER 26
1897	1897	STATE LAWS CONCERNING ANTITRUST AND RESTRA INT OF TRADE FOR 27
1898	1898	COOPERATIVE ACTIVITI ES ASSOCIATED WITH T HE COLLECTION , TRANSPORT, 28
1899	1899	PROCESSING, RECYCLING, REUSE, AND MANAGEMENT OF EM PTY REDEEMABLE 29
1900	1900	BEVERAGE CONTAINERS . 30
1901	1901
1902	1902	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 31
1903	1903	1, 2025. 32
1904	1904