BILL NUMBER:  AB 1173
  VETOED	DATE: 10/12/2009




To the Members of the California State Assembly:

I am returning Assembly Bill 1173 without my signature.

This bill creates a new program for the recycling of certain
residentially-generated fluorescent lamps.  While I applaud the
author's intent, this bill inappropriately links a waste and toxics
reduction program to California's world-renowned energy efficiency
efforts.

Current law requires the state's investor-owned and publicly-owned
utilities to charge consumers a public goods charge and use a portion
of the money collected on energy efficiency programs.  One of those
programs has traditionally been to incentivize the purchase of more
energy-efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) by providing
monetary incentives to both manufacturers and retailers to reduce the
increased costs of CFLs to the consumer.

By tying CFL recycling mandates to a manufacturer or retailers'
participation in CFL energy efficiency programs, this bill creates a
reverse incentive that could force manufacturers and retailers to
choose not to participate in either program.  The result is no new
improvement to CFL recycling and a potential increase in the costs of
CFLs to consumers, which decreases CFL sales and undermines our
energy-efficiency efforts.

For these reasons, I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,



Arnold Schwarzenegger