BILL NUMBER: SB 625 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 20, 2015
INTRODUCED BY Senator Galgiani
FEBRUARY 27, 2015
An act relating to waste management. An
act to add Chapter 5.9 (commencing with Section 42360) to Part 3 of
Division 30 of the Public Resources Code, relating to waste
management.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 625, as amended, Galgiani. Water pollution: synthetic
plastic microbeads. Waste management: synthetic
plastic microbeads.
The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986
(Proposition 65) prohibits any person, in the course of doing
business, from knowingly and intentionally exposing any individual to
a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive
toxicity without giving a specified warning, or from discharging or
releasing such a chemical into any source of drinking water, except
as specified. Existing law prohibits the sale of expanded polystyrene
packaging material by a wholesaler or manufacturer. Existing law
prohibits a person from selling a plastic product in this state that
is labeled with the term "compostable," "home compostable," or
"marine degradable" unless, at the time of sale, the plastic product
meets the applicable ASTM International standard specification.
This bill would prohibit, on and after January 1, 2020, a person,
as defined, from selling or offering for promotional purposes in this
state a personal care product containing synthetic plastic
microbeads, as specified. The bill would exempt from those
prohibitions the sale or promotional offer of a product containing
less than 1 part per million (ppm) by weight of synthetic plastic
microbeads, as provided.
The bill would make a violator liable for a civil penalty not to
exceed $2,500 per day for each violation. The bill would authorize
the penalty to be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought in
any court of competent jurisdiction by the Attorney General, to be
retained by that office. The bill would make these moneys available
to the office of the Attorney General, upon appropriation, for the
purpose of enforcing these provisions. The bill would prohibit a
city, county, or other local public agency from adopting, amending
enforcing, or otherwise implementing an ordinance, resolution,
regulation, or rule relating to the sale or offering for promotional
purposes of personal care products that contain synthetic plastic
microbeads.
The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986
(Proposition 65) prohibits any person, in the course of doing
business, from knowingly and intentionally exposing any individual to
a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive
toxicity without giving a specified warning, or from discharging or
releasing such a chemical into any source of drinking water, except
as specified.
This bill would declare the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would prevent water pollution from synthetic plastic
microbeads.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no
yes . State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 5.9 (commencing with Section
42360) is added to Part 3 of Division 30 of the Public
Resources Code , to read:
CHAPTER 5.9. PLASTIC MICROBEADS NUISANCE PREVENTION LAW
42360. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) Conventional plastic does not biodegrade into elements or
compounds commonly found in nature like other organic materials, but,
instead, upon exposure to the elements photodegrades into smaller
pieces of plastic causing land and water pollution that is virtually
impossible to remediate.
(b) Plastic pollution is the dominant type of anthropogenic debris
found throughout the marine environment.
(c) Plastic pollution is an environmental and human health hazard
and a public nuisance.
(d) Personal care products such as facial scrubs, soaps, and
toothpaste increasingly contain thousands of synthetic plastic
microbeads, ranging from 50 - 500 microns, that are flushed down
drains or make their way into the environment by other means as part
of their intended use.
(e) Some synthetic plastic microbeads are not recoverable through
wastewater treatment facilities in the state and may be released into
the environment.
(f) Synthetic plastic microbeads have been found in surface waters
within the United States, as well as in fish, marine mammals, and
reptiles, and in the digestive and circulatory systems of mussels and
worms.
(g) There are economically feasible alternatives to synthetic
plastic microbeads used in personal care products, as evidenced by
the current use of biodegradable, natural, abrasive materials in
personal care products such as beeswax, shells, nuts, and seeds.
42361. As used in this chapter, the following terms have the
following meanings:
(a) "Person" means an individual, business, or other entity.
(b) "Personal care product" means an article intended to be
rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced to, or otherwise
applied to, the human body or any part of the human body for
cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the
appearance, and an article intended for use as a component of that
type of article.
(c) "Synthetic plastic microbead" means an intentionally added
non-biodegradable solid plastic particle measuring five millimeters
in size or less in every dimension, that retains its shape during use
and after disposal, and that is used to exfoliate or cleanse in a
rinse-off personal care product.
42362. On and after January 1, 2020, a person shall not sell or
offer for promotional purposes in this state any personal care
product containing synthetic plastic microbeads.
42363. Section 42362 shall not apply to a person that sells or
offers for promotional purposes a personal care product containing
synthetic plastic microbeads in less than 1 part per million (ppm) by
weight.
42364. (a) A person who violates or threatens to violate Section
42362 may be enjoined in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(b) (1) A person who has violated Section 42362 is liable for a
civil penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars
($2,500) per day for each violation in addition to any other penalty
established by law. That civil penalty may be assessed and recovered
in a civil action brought in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(2) In assessing the amount of a civil penalty for a violation of
this chapter, the court shall consider all of the following:
(A) The nature and extent of the violation.
(B) The number of, and severity of, the violations.
(C) The economic effect of the penalty on the violator.
(D) Whether the violator took good faith measures to comply with
this chapter and when these measures were taken.
(E) The deterrent effect that the imposition of the penalty would
have on both the violator and the regulated community as a whole.
(F) Any other factor that justice may require.
(c) Actions pursuant to this section may be brought by the
Attorney General in the name of the people of the state.
(d) Civil penalties collected pursuant to this section shall be
paid to the office of the Attorney General and are available to that
office, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purpose of
enforcing this chapter.
42365. This chapter does not alter or diminish any legal
obligation otherwise required in common law or by statute or
regulation, and this chapter does not create or enlarge any defense
in any action to enforce the legal obligation. Penalties and
sanctions imposed pursuant to this chapter shall be in addition to
any penalties or sanctions otherwise prescribed by law.
42366. Commencing January 1, 2016, a city, county, or other local
public agency shall not adopt, amend, enforce, or otherwise
implement, a local ordinance, resolution, regulation, or rule
relating to the sale or offering for promotional purposes of personal
care products that contain synthetic plastic microbeads.
SECTION 1. It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would prevent water pollution from
synthetic plastic microbeads.