Honorable Patricia Harless, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1346 by González, Mary (Relating to the collection and recycling of computer and television equipment by certain retailers; providing for the imposition of administrative penalties.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Health and Safety Code to provide definitions for “large retailer” and “retailer;” and would include requirements for recycling computer and television equipment by large retailers. The bill would also add administrative penalties for violations.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) would be required to adopt rules to implement the provisions of the bill not later than May 1, 2014. TCEQ’s analysis assumes that a large retailer would be required to accept computers and television equipment regardless of size and regardless of whether the equipment was purchased from that retailer. TCEQ tracks the effectiveness of these programs by reporting the weight of equipment collected and recycled; however, because the bill does not require large retailers to report recycling activity by weight or other criteria, and does not require large retailers to register with TCEQ or submit information about sales or space used, it would be difficult to assess the effectiveness of recycling programs without a unit of measurement that could be applied by all entities that recycle electronic equipment.
The bill would specify that changes in law to Subchapters Y and Z, Chapter 361 of the Health and Safety Code may not be enforced before September 1, 2014.
According to TCEQ, there would be no significant fiscal impact on the agency and any costs could be accomplished utilizing the agency’s available resources.
According to the Comptroller of Public Accounts, there would be no revenue implications and no fiscal impact on the state or on the state’s cash flow.
Local Government Impact
Local governmental entities that host voluntarily electronics recycling collection events may see event costs decrease if a large retailer becomes the main provider of recycling services; however, the amounts would vary depending on the size of the locality, the number of events, and the current policies and services.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality