BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1280
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 20, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 1280 (Adams) - As Amended: May 6, 2009
Policy Committee: Natural
ResourcesVote:9-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill exempts from the definition of a covered electronic
device (CED) a video display device that is contained within a
freezer, induction cooktop or range, beverage maker, food
steamer, or air purifier only if the Department of Toxic
Substances Control (DTSC) has not adopted regulations that
identify the electronic device to be hazardous waste.
FISCAL EFFECT
Negligible costs.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The sponsor of this bill- STS Ventures, LLC-claims
that the list of products that are statutorily exempt from the
electronic waste (e-waste) fee is outdated. Decreasing
technology costs and new technology advances now allow the
inclusion of touch screens in relatively inexpensive devices,
such as air purifiers and beverage makers. Placing an
additional e-waste fee of $8 to $25 dollars on these products
can increase their price considerably and make them
noncompetitive with similar devices that lack touch screens.
2)Background .
a) E-waste Fees and CED Take-back Programs . Many
electronic devices contain hazardous materials. For this
reason, it is illegal to dispose of many electronic devices
along with ordinary garbage. To properly manage disposal
of hazardous e-waste, California enacted the Electronic
AB 1280
Page 2
Waste Management Act of 2003. Under the e-waste act, an
e-waste fee is assessed on certain "covered electronic
devices" (CEDs) sold in California, with fee revenues used
to provide payments to authorized collectors and recyclers
of e-waste.
b) DTSC Identifies Covered Electronic Devices. Generally,
the law authorizes DTSC to determine what electronic
devices may be hazardous and, therefore, to classify as
CEDs. DTSC classifies most video display products, such as
computer monitors and televisions, as CEDs. Such devices
are subject to the e-waste fee, collected at the time of
sale, as follows:
i) Greater than 4 inches but less than 15 inches-$8.
ii) Greater than or equal to 15 inches but less than 35
inches-$16.
iii) Greater than or equal to 35 inches-$25.
c) Existing Law Explicitly Exempts Certain Video Display
Devices . SB 50 (Sher, Chapter 863, Statutes of 2004)
expanded the list of products exempted from the definition
of a CED to include common household appliances, such as a
video display device contained within a clothes washer,
clothes dryer, or refrigerator.
3)Supporters - STS Venture, LLC and the California Retailers
Association-argue that the list of statutorily exempted
electronic devices is outdated. Today, relatively inexpensive
devices include touch screens, and more products are likely to
soon carry these screens as well. The addition of the e-waste
fee to these relatively low-cost products makes them
considerably more expensive and uncompetitive with similar
devices that do not include touch screens.
4)Opponents , including Californians Against Waste-a group that
advocates for waste reduction and increased recycling-contends
the devices exempted by this bill all contain hazardous
materials and, therefore, should be subject to the e-waste fee
to enable proper disposal.
Analysis Prepared by : Jay Dickenson / APPR. / (916) 319-2081