Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB821 by Leibowitz (Relating to a program for the recycling of electronic equipment of consumers in this state; providing administrative penalties.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would expand the state computer recycling program to add televisions that are sold or leased in the state. Retailers would be restricted from selling televisions from manufacturers that are not on a list of manufacturers with recovery plans maintained by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). In addition, the bill would require the TCEQ to to provide educational material to consumers, enforce the bill’s provisions in conjunction with the Attorney General, and provide an annual report to the Legislature. The bill also requires the Texas Building and Procurement Commission and the Department of Information Resources to adopt rules governing the purchase or lease of televisions by state agencies to include the recycling and reuse provisions of the bill.
None of the bill's requirements affecting state agencies are expected to have significant fiscal implications.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. The bill would expand the computer recycling program to include televisions that are sold or leased in the state, and would require television manufacturers to establish free collection and recycling programs for their brands. The impact to local governments could result in a decrease in collections and potentially a cost savings if a collection program for discarded computers is currently in operation; however, those amounts are not anticipated to be significant.
Source Agencies:
302 Office of the Attorney General, 303 Facilities Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality