Honorable Wayne Smith, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1913 by Hancock (Relating to requirements for businesses that offer plastic checkout bags to customers.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would require certain businesses that offer plastic checkout bags to establish a recycling program for those bags. Affected businesses would include stores that: are full-line, self-service retail; have annual sales of $5million or more; sell a line of dry grocery, canned goods, and some perishable food items; and have over 20,000 square feet of retail space. Businesses would be required to train employees on efficient bagging techniques and other procedures intended to reduce the use of plastic bags. The bill would not apply to businesses that employ fewer than 51 employees per location. Businesses would also be exempt from the bill’s provisions if there were no available public recycling program in the county and no private recycling services available at a reasonable cost. The bill would preempt cities from adopting ordinances that conflict with the bill.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.