BILL ANALYSIS
SB 579
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 21, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES
Wesley Chesbro, Chair
SB 579 (Lowenthal) - As Amended: April 8, 2010
SENATE VOTE : 31-0
SUBJECT : Used oil
SUMMARY : Makes technical and clean-up amendments to the
California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery
(DRRR), which administers various recycling and resource
programs for the state including but not limited to the
recycling of used oil.
2)Establishes the California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act (Act)
which authorizes DRRR to award grants to and work with local
governments, non-profit entities and private companies in
order to develop and advance certain developments in
lubricating oil including but not limited to oil recycling,
collection, research, testing, and rerefining. The Act is
administered by DRRR and is meant to discourage illegal
disposal of used oil. Oil manufacturers are charged a fee on
all oil sold in California to fund local curbside oil pickup
programs, local collection facilities, and rebates to oil
manufacturers among other activities.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS :
This bill corrects references to the California Integrated Waste
Management Board (CIWMB) within SB 63 (Strickland), Chapter 21,
Statutes of 2009 which abolished the CIWMB and transferred all
of its duties and responsibilities to DRRR, which was created
within the Natural Resources Agency, under the direction of an
executive officer appointed by the Governor.
SB 546 (Lowenthal), Chapter 353, Statutes of 2009 made broad
changes to the Act in order to encourage the best re-use of used
SB 579
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oil and reduce air pollution from the use of used oil. These
changes and updates included raising the fee paid by lubricating
oil manufacturers from 16 cents to 24 cents per gallon,
increasing the incentives paid for the proper recycling of used
oil, and increasing the testing requirements for used oil
transporters, including an annual inspection. The changes to
the Act made by SB 546 were also aimed at increasing revenue to
the state. Funds associated with the Act provide funding for a
variety of purposes including establishment and maintenance of
local collection and recycling programs, research and
development for oil management, development of low-environmental
impact products associated with oil recycling, manufacturing,
and rerefining. Also funded are programs aimed at increasing
oil efficiency and at the production of biofuels and synthetic
oil products. Since the abolishment of the CIWMB, language in
the used oil management program needs to be updated to reflect
the new administrative structure from the previous board to the
current department.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Jessica Westbrook / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092