84R7176 JRR-D
 
  By: Farias H.B. No. 1058
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to notice and information provided by a municipal solid
  waste facility and a commercial transporter of solid waste
  regarding recycling programs for certain electronic waste.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 361.954(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The collection, recycling, and reuse provisions of this
  subchapter apply to computer equipment used and returned to the
  manufacturer by a consumer in this state and, except as provided by
  Section 361.967, do not impose any obligation on an owner or
  operator of a solid waste facility or a transporter of solid waste.
         SECTION 2.  Section 361.966, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 361.966.  FEDERAL PREEMPTION; EXPIRATION. (a)  If
  federal law establishes a national program for the collection and
  recycling of computer equipment and the commission determines that
  the federal law substantially meets the purposes of Sections
  361.952 through 361.965 [this subchapter], the commission may adopt
  an agency statement that interprets the federal law as preemptive
  of those sections [this subchapter].
         (b)  Sections 361.952 through 361.965 expire [This
  subchapter expires] on the date the commission issues a statement
  under this section.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter Y, Chapter 361, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 361.967 to read as follows:
         Sec. 361.967.  NOTICE AND INFORMATION PROVIDED TO CONSUMER
  BY MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FACILITY AND COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTER. (a)
  In this section, "electronic waste" means computer equipment that
  is eligible for collection under a manufacturer's recovery plan
  adopted under Section 361.955.
         (b)  An owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill
  or a municipal solid waste incinerator shall post in a conspicuous
  location at the landfill or incinerator a sign that encourages
  consumers to recycle electronic waste. An owner or operator is not
  liable for electronic waste collected at the landfill or
  incinerator and is not required to remove electronic waste
  collected.  An owner or operator is not in violation of this
  subsection if the owner or operator has made a good faith effort to
  comply with this subsection.
         (c)  A commercial transporter of solid waste who transports
  waste to a municipal solid waste landfill or a municipal solid waste
  incinerator shall provide each person who has contracted directly
  with the transporter for the transportation of solid waste an
  informational insert that encourages consumers to recycle
  electronic waste.  A commercial transporter must provide the insert
  to each person at least once each year.  A commercial transporter is
  not liable for electronic waste carried by the transporter and is
  not required to remove electronic waste collected. A commercial
  transporter is not in violation of this subsection if the
  commercial transporter has made a good faith effort to comply with
  this subsection.  This subsection expires December 31, 2017.
         (d)  The commission by rule shall develop the sign and
  informational insert required by this section. The sign and insert
  must include information relating to recycling programs for
  electronic waste and the commission's Internet website.
         SECTION 4.  Section 361.973(a), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by this section and Sections
  [Section] 361.991 and 361.993, this subchapter applies only to
  covered television equipment that is:
               (1)  offered for sale or sold to a consumer in this
  state; or
               (2)  used by a consumer in this state and returned for
  recycling.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 361, Health and Safety
  Code, is amended by adding Section 361.993 to read as follows:
         Sec. 361.993.  NOTICE AND INFORMATION PROVIDED TO CONSUMER
  BY MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE FACILITY AND COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTER. (a)
  In this section, "electronic waste" means covered television
  equipment that is eligible for collection under:
               (1)  a manufacturer's recovery plan adopted under
  Section 361.978; or
               (2)  a manufacturer recycling leadership program
  established under Section 361.979.
         (b)  An owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill
  or a municipal solid waste incinerator shall post in a conspicuous
  location at the landfill or incinerator a sign that encourages
  consumers to recycle electronic waste. An owner or operator is not
  liable for electronic waste collected at the landfill or
  incinerator and is not required to remove electronic waste
  collected.  An owner or operator is not in violation of this
  subsection if the owner or operator has made a good faith effort to
  comply with this subsection.
         (c)  A commercial transporter of solid waste who transports
  waste to a municipal solid waste landfill or a municipal solid waste
  incinerator shall provide each person who has contracted directly
  with the transporter for the transportation of solid waste an
  informational insert that encourages consumers to recycle
  electronic waste.  A commercial transporter must provide the insert
  to each person at least once each year.  A commercial transporter is
  not liable for electronic waste carried by the transporter and is
  not required to remove electronic waste collected. A commercial
  transporter is not in violation of this subsection if the
  commercial transporter has made a good faith effort to comply with
  this subsection.  This subsection expires December 31, 2017.
         (d)  The commission by rule shall develop the sign and
  informational insert required by this section. The sign and insert
  must include information relating to recycling programs for
  electronic waste and the commission's Internet website.
         SECTION 6.  (a)  The Texas Commission on Environmental
  Quality shall adopt rules to implement this Act not later than
  December 31, 2015.
         (b)  Sections 361.967 and 361.993, Health and Safety Code, as
  added by this Act, apply to an owner or operator of a municipal
  solid waste landfill or incinerator and a transporter of solid
  waste who transports waste to a municipal solid waste landfill or
  incinerator beginning on the effective date of rules adopted by the
  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality under Subsection (a) of
  this section.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.