BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                   Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
                           Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair

                                           2398 (J. Perez)
          
          Hearing Date:  08/02/2010           Amended: 06/23/2010
          Consultant:  Brendan McCarthy   Policy Vote: EQ 5-2














































          AB 2398 (J. Perez), Page 2


          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
          BILL SUMMARY: AB 2398 requires carpet manufacturers to implement  
          stewardship programs to increase the recycling rate of carpet in  
          the state to 25 percent by 2017 and 50 percent by 2022. After  
          April 1, 2012, the bill prohibits the sale of carpet in the  
          state by a manufacturer that is not part of a stewardship  
          organization with an approved plan. The bill requires an  
          assessment per unit of carpet sold in the state to pay for the  
          costs of the stewardship plans.
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____
                            Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions         2010-11      2011-12       2012-13     Fund
           
          Oversight of stewardship          $290        $280       
          $280Special *
             plans

          Reporting on state carpet                                
          $50General             
             purchasing policies

          * Integrated Waste Management Account. Ultimately to be covered  
          by fees.
          _________________________________________________________________ 
          ____

          STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE. AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED
          
          AB 2389 establishes a carpet stewardship program, under which  
          carpet manufacturers are required to increase the amount of  
          carpet that is recycled in the state. Specifically, the bill  
          requires carpet manufacturers, either individually or through  
          one or more stewardship organizations, to submit a carpet  
          stewardship plan to the state by September 31, 2011. The plan  
          shall include the methods that will be used to increase  
          recycling of carpet, including information on funding  
          mechanisms. The stewardship plans shall be funded by an  
          assessment on each unit of carpet sold in the state, to be used  
          by the stewardship organizations to increase recycling.

          The stewardship organizations are required to submit their plans  
          to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery, which  
          will review and approve the plans.







          AB 2398 (J. Perez), Page 2



          After April 1, 2012, a carpet manufacturer may not sell carpet  
          in the state if the manufacturer is not part of a stewardship  
          organization with an approved plan. The stewardship  
          organizations are required to submit annual plans to the  
          Department, demonstrating that the organization has reached a  
          recycling rate of 25 percent by 2017 and 50 percent by 2022.

          Stewardship organizations are required to pay an annual fee to  
          the Department to cover its costs to enforce the requirements of  
          the bill. The bill authorizes the Department to impose civil  
          penalties for violations of the requirements of the bill. 

          The bill also adds carpet to the state's buy-recycled  
          requirements for state agencies, specifying that carpet should  
          include at least 25 percent recycled material.

          The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery indicates  
          that it will need about $280,000 in ongoing additional resources  
          to enforce the provisions of the bill. Once the stewardship  
          organizations have submitted their plans and the Department has  
          approved an annual fee schedule, those costs should be covered  
          by fees.

          The Department of General Services indicates that it will face  
          minor costs to update state procurement regulations with respect  
          to recycled carpet.


          AB 1343 (Huffman, 2009) establishes producer stewardship program  
          for architectural paint. That bill was held on this committee's  
          Suspense File.

          AB 2176 (Bloomenfiled) establishes a producer stewardship  
          program for mercury-containing lamps. That bill was held in the  
          Assembly Appropriations Committee.

          AB 2319 (Chesbro) establishes a producer stewardship program for  
          several products. That bill failed passage on the Assembly  
          floor.

          SB 1100 (Corbett) establishes a producer stewardship program for  
          household batteries. That bill is in the Assembly Appropriations  
          Committee.









          AB 2398 (J. Perez), Page 2


          
          The author's proposed amendments designate a specific entity as  
          the statewide stewardship organization until January 1, 2013.  
          From April 1, 2011 to January 1, 2013, the amendments require a  
          $0.05 per square yard assessment to be placed on all carpet sold  
          in the state, to be remitted to the designated stewardship  
          organization. After January 1, 2013, the amount of the  
          assessment will be determined by the stewardship plans. The  
          amendments delete specific recycling targets and instead require  
          stewardship organizations to demonstrate continuous, meaningful  
          improvement in recycling rates. The amendments eliminate the  
          requirement for state agencies to buy recycled carpet and  
          require the Department of General Services to report to the  
          Legislature on issues relating to state purchases of carpet.