BILL ANALYSIS �
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Date of Hearing: June 11, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Joan Buchanan, Chair
SCR 79 (Galgiani) - As Amended: April 10, 2014
SENATE VOTE : 29 - 0
SUBJECT : School and college textbooks; recycled paper
SUMMARY : Urges the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the
President of the University of California, the Chancellor of the
California State University, and the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges to ensure that specified persons
are aware of the benefits of recycled paper and consider those
benefits when purchasing textbooks. Specifically, this bill :
1)Makes findings and declarations relating to the availability
and benefits of recovered paper, including its use in
high-content recycled textbook paper.
2)Declares that it in the interest of the public and the
environment to maximize the use of high-content recycled
paper.
3)Finds that it would serve the public interest if those persons
who are responsible for purchasing textbooks for public
schools, colleges, and universities, were aware of the
benefits of using high-content recycled paper.
4)Resolves that the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the
President of the University of California, the Chancellor of
the California State University, and the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges ensure that specified persons
are aware of the benefits of recycled paper and consider those
benefits when purchasing textbooks.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Declares the intent of the Legislature to increase public
awareness of the value of recycling and the need to recycle,
and to improve environmental quality by the recycling of paper
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products.
2)Defines "recycled paper" to mean all paper and wood pulp
products with not less than 50% of its total weight consisting
of secondary and postconsumer waster and with not less than
10% of its total weight consisting of postconsumer waste.
3)Permits and encourages school districts and California State
University and College campuses to establish and maintain a
paper recycling program.
4)Encourages each educational agency to purchase recycled paper
products, as specified.
5)Requires the State Solid Waste Management Board, in
conjunction with the California Department of Education (CDE),
to develop and distribute curriculum materials relating to
paper recycling, conservation of resources, and topics
relating to the implementation of recycling programs.
6)Makes a legislative declaration that it is the policy goal of
the state that not less than 75% of solid waste generated be
source reduced, recycled, or composted by the year 2020.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : This measure encourages the wise use of resources
when paper products are used. While digital instructional
materials may be a growing market, there are still an
overwhelming number of printed instructional materials purchased
by local educational agencies in California each year. This
resolution examines the practices surrounding those printed
materials and asks the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the
President of the University of California, the Chancellor of the
California State University, and the Chancellor of the
California Community Colleges to ensure that specified persons
are aware of the benefits of recycled paper and that those
persons consider such benefits when purchasing textbooks.
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Staff recommends deleting the statement that textbooks made with
high-content recycled paper will not result in additional
expenses to local educational agencies or colleges. On the
whole, recycled paper costs an average of 7-10% more than
comparable virgin papers.<1> Therefore, it is unclear, at best,
whether textbooks printed on high-content recycled paper would
result in higher costs to local educational agencies or
colleges. Finally, staff recommends replacing, throughout the
measure, the phrase "high-content recycled paper" with the
language that references paper with a high percentage of
recycled content for clarity.
Arguments in Support
A great deal of effort has been made to organize recycling
collection systems but much less attention has been paid to
encouraging the development of markets for the papers made with
recovered paper collected in those systems. Yet recycling is not
actually accomplished until that recovered paper is delivered to
and used at a recycling mill. This measure will help to inform
markets and bolster the demand for recycled papers.
Arguments in Opposition
The American Association of Publishers contends that if the
state's interest is to mitigate paper waste, digital textbooks
are an equally effective solution that should be recognized.
Additionally, the American Association of Publishers is
concerned that there is no basis for the assertion that the use
of paper with a high percentage of recycled content will not
result in higher costs to local educational agencies or
colleges. This latter concern is addressed through the staff's
proposed amendment.
Previous Legislation
AB 341 (Chesboro) Chapter 476, Statutes of 2011, made a
legislative declaration that it is the policy goal of the state
that not less than 75% of solid waste generated be source
reduced, recycled, or composted by the year 2020.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
---------------------------
<1>
http://www.conservatree.org/learn/Essential%20Issues/EIPaperMakin
g.shtml . Accessed on June 3, 2014.
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Conservatree
Environmental Paper Network
National Resources Defense Council
Opposition
American Association of Publishers
Analysis Prepared by : Jill Rice / ED. / (916) 319-2087