88R1903 JAM-D
 
  By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1596
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the Texas Cleaner Landscapes for
  the Economy, Agriculture, and Nature (CLEAN) Advisory Council.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as the Texas Cleaner
  Landscapes for the Economy, Agriculture, and Nature (CLEAN) Act.
         SECTION 2.  Subtitle B, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 375 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 375. TEXAS CLEANER LANDSCAPES FOR THE ECONOMY,
  AGRICULTURE, AND NATURE ADVISORY COUNCIL
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 375.0101.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Beverage container":
                     (A)  means an individual, separate, and sealed
  container that is made entirely or of any combination of glass,
  aluminum, steel, other metal, or plastic, regardless of size, and
  is used for containing, at the time of sale to a consumer, a
  beverage for consumption; and
                     (B)  does not include refillable containers that
  are intended to be refilled and reused more than once for sale or
  distribution.
               (2)  "Carryout bag":
                     (A)  means a bag that is designed for one use and
  provided gratuitously by a grocery store, retail store, or food
  service establishment at the point of sale for the purpose of
  transporting groceries, prepared foods, or consumer goods; and
                     (B)  does not include a bag:
                           (i)  that lacks handles and is used to
  prevent an item of food from damaging or contaminating another food
  item;
                           (ii)  intended to contain an unwrapped food
  item, food items sold in bulk, or a hot food item;
                           (iii)  used as part of distributing
  newspapers; or
                           (iv)  used by a customer to transport dry
  cleaning or pharmaceuticals.
               (3)  "Council" means the Texas Cleaner Landscapes for
  the Economy, Agriculture, and Nature Advisory Council.
               (4)  "Food service establishment" means an
  establishment, place, or location, whether permanent, temporary,
  seasonal, or itinerant, where food is prepared and the public is
  offered to be served, or is served, prepared food.
               (5)  "Grocery store" means a business primarily engaged
  in the retail sale of packaged food for off-site consumption.
               (6)  "Retail store" means a business engaged in the
  sale of consumer goods.
  SUBCHAPTER B. TEXAS CLEANER LANDSCAPES FOR THE ECONOMY,
  AGRICULTURE, AND NATURE ADVISORY COUNCIL
         Sec. 375.0201.  TEXAS CLEANER LANDSCAPES FOR THE ECONOMY,
  AGRICULTURE, AND NATURE ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) The Texas Cleaner
  Landscapes for the Economy, Agriculture, and Nature Advisory
  Council consists of 13 residents of this state appointed as
  follows:
               (1)  four members appointed by the governor as follows:
                     (A)  one representative of county governments;
                     (B)  one representative of the agriculture
  industry;
                     (C)  one representative of the solid waste
  industry; and
                     (D)  one representative of the conservation
  community;
               (2)  three members appointed by the lieutenant governor
  as follows:
                     (A)  one representative of retailers who sell or
  give away beverage containers or carryout bags;
                     (B)  one representative of manufacturers or
  distributors of beverage containers or carryout bags; and
                     (C)  one representative of businesses that
  utilize recycled glass, aluminum, or plastic in manufacturing
  operations;
               (3)  three members appointed by the governor from a
  list provided by the speaker of the house of representatives as
  follows:
                     (A)  one representative of retailers who sell or
  give away beverage containers or carryout bags;
                     (B)  one representative of manufacturers or
  distributors of beverage containers or carryout bags; and
                     (C)  one representative of businesses that
  utilize recycled glass, aluminum, or plastic in manufacturing
  operations;
               (4)  the comptroller or the comptroller's designee, who
  serves as a voting ex officio member;
               (5)  the executive director of the Texas Department of
  Transportation or that executive director's designee, who serves as
  a voting ex officio member; and
               (6)  the commissioner of agriculture or the
  commissioner's designee, who serves as a voting ex officio member.
         (b)  The members serve staggered terms of six years with
  three or four members' terms, as applicable, expiring February 1 of
  even-numbered years.
         (c)  The members shall elect a chair and a vice chair, whose
  duties are established by the council.
         (d)  In making the appointments under Subsection (a), an
  appointing authority shall strive to ensure that the council is
  composed of persons who are diverse in professional or educational
  background, ethnicity, race, sex, geographic residency, heritage,
  perspective, and experience.
         Sec. 375.0202.  MEETINGS. (a) The council shall elect its
  chair and vice chair annually.
         (a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (c), the comptroller shall
  call the first meeting of the council. The council shall elect its
  chair and vice chair at that meeting. This subsection expires
  September 1, 2025.
         (b)  The council shall:
               (1)  establish a time and place for regular meetings;
  and
               (2)  meet not less than once quarterly.
         (c)  All meetings of the council, including emergency
  meetings, are at the call of the chair with written notice given to
  all council members.
         (d)  The council may conduct special or regular meetings by
  electronic or other means pursuant to Chapter 551, Government Code.
         (e)  A majority of the voting members of the council
  constitutes a quorum. If a quorum is present, the council may act
  on any matter within its jurisdiction by a majority vote.
         Sec. 375.0203.  VACANCY. A vacancy on the council shall be
  filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original
  appointment.
         Sec. 375.0204.  REMOVAL. The respective appointing
  authorities may remove a member of the council other than an ex
  officio member for misconduct, incapacity, or neglect of duty.
         Sec. 375.0205.  COMPENSATION. A member of the council is not
  entitled to compensation for services on the council but is
  entitled to reimbursement for actual reasonable and necessary
  expenses incurred in performing council duties.
         Sec. 375.0206.  DUTIES. (a) The council shall:
               (1)  create and implement a program that recovers, for
  the purpose of recycling, 85 percent of plastic, glass, and
  aluminum beverage containers sold within this state;
               (2)  develop a carryout bag reduction and recycling
  program to:
                     (A)  address the proliferation of carryout bags;
  and
                     (B)  reduce a source of litter on the landscape,
  source of contamination to recycling systems, source of injury to
  wildlife and livestock, and threat to this state's agriculture
  industry;
               (3)  develop and implement a statewide litter program
  to comprehensively address litter prevention and reduction; 
               (4)  evaluate existing state laws, and any
  administrative rules related to those laws, that address litter;
  and
               (5)  report to the legislature on the effectiveness of
  any laws and rules evaluated under Subdivision (4) and make
  recommendations on how those laws and rules may be improved.
         (b)  In developing and implementing programs required by
  Subsections (a)(1)-(3), the council shall:
               (1)  determine how money generated from a program
  developed under Subsection (a)(1) may be used for the purposes of
  this chapter;
               (2)  develop and implement a system to prevent fraud
  and abuse of the programs;
               (3)  establish civil penalties to deter fraud;
               (4)  work with manufacturers to maximize the amount of
  recovered material returned to the production cycle; and
               (5)  take any other action directly related to the
  development of the programs and to effectuate the purposes of this
  chapter.
         Sec. 375.0207.  REPORT. (a) Not later than September 1 of
  each year, the council shall prepare and submit to the governor and
  the legislature a financial report on the implementation of the
  programs described by Sections 375.0206(a)(1)-(3).
         (b)  Not later than September 1, 2027, the council shall
  prepare and submit to the governor and the legislature a report that
  details the operational framework of the programs described by
  Sections 375.0206(a)(1)-(3) as of that date. This subsection
  expires January 1, 2028.
         Sec. 375.0208.  IMPLEMENTATION AND RULES. (a) The
  comptroller, in consultation with the council, may adopt rules to
  effectuate the purposes of this chapter.
         (b)  Before developing and implementing the programs
  required under Sections 375.0206(a)(1)-(3), performing the
  evaluation required under Section 375.0206(a)(4), and making the
  reports required under Sections 375.0206(a)(5) and 375.0207, the
  comptroller shall:
               (1)  research, evaluate, and develop recommendations
  in order to determine the most effective methods and actions
  necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter; and
               (2)  submit those recommendations to the council.
         SECTION 3.  (a) Not later than December 1, 2024, the
  appropriate appointing authority shall appoint the members to the
  Texas Cleaner Landscapes for the Economy, Agriculture, and Nature
  Advisory Council as required by Section 375.0201, Health and Safety
  Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 375.0201, Health and Safety
  Code, as added by this Act, in making the initial appointments under
  that section, the governor and lieutenant governor shall, as
  applicable, designate one member of the Texas Cleaner Landscapes
  for the Economy, Agriculture, and Nature Advisory Council appointed
  by that person to serve a term expiring February 1, 2026, one member
  appointed by that person to serve a term expiring February 1, 2028,
  and one member appointed by that person to serve a term expiring
  February 1, 2030. The governor shall appoint an additional member
  to serve a term expiring February 1, 2026.
         SECTION 4.  (a) Not later than June 30, 2026, the Texas
  Cleaner Landscapes for the Economy, Agriculture, and Nature
  Advisory Council shall develop and begin the implementation of
  programs described by Section 375.0206(a), Health and Safety Code,
  as added by this Act, and shall make the report regarding state laws
  and administrative rules as required by Subsection (a)(5) of that
  section.
         (b)  Not later than September 1, 2027, the Texas Cleaner
  Landscapes for the Economy, Agriculture, and Nature Advisory
  Council shall submit to the legislature and the governor the
  initial report required under Section 375.0207(a), Health and
  Safety Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.