An Act establishing the commission on extended producer responsibility

1 of 1 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3040 FILED ON: 2/18/2021 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 948 The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _________________ PRESENTED BY: Bradley H. Jones, Jr. _________________ To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act establishing the commission on extended producer responsibility. _______________ PETITION OF: NAME: DISTRICT/ADDRESS: DATE ADDED: Bradley H. Jones, Jr. 20th Middlesex 2/18/2021 Susan Williams Gifford 2nd Plymouth 2/25/2021 Paul K. Frost 7th Worcester 3/11/2021 Mathew J. Muratore 1st Plymouth 3/22/2021 Steven S. Howitt 4th Bristol 3/31/2021 1 of 3 HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3040 FILED ON: 2/18/2021 HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 948 By Mr. Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 948) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to implementing extended producer responsibility laws. Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts _______________ In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court (2021-2022) _______________ An Act establishing the commission on extended producer responsibility. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a 2 special commission, referred to as the commission on extended producer responsibility, to study 3 and report on implementing extended producer responsibility laws in the commonwealth. The 4 commission shall consist of the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, or a designee; the 5 commissioner of environmental protection, or a designee; 1 member of the department of 6 business development; 3 members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed 7 by the speaker of the house, and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 8 house; 3 members of the senate, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president, and 1 of 9 whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; and 2 members who shall be appointed 10 by the governor. 11 The scope of the commission shall include, but not be limited to: researching, evaluating, 12 and developing recommendations regarding the economic, environmental, and public health 2 of 3 13 benefits and costs of extended producer responsibility laws related to the manufacture and post- 14 consumer management of products including, but not limited to, the following: leftover paint, 15 electronics, pesticides, household batteries, fluorescent lamps, phone books, carpet, medical 16 sharps, consumer packaging and printed materials, pharmaceuticals, tires and mercury 17 thermostats. The commission shall also research and make recommendations regarding the 18 establishment of a comprehensive product stewardship approach, also known as a framework 19 approach, to create an statewide policy structure for product stewardship that may be applied to 20 an array of products. The commission shall consult with manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, 21 environmental advocacy organizations, local units of government, and other interested parties, 22 and shall provide at least one opportunity for public comment and the public review of the 23 commission’s draft report. The commission report shall include, but not be limited to, summaries 24 of the following: (1) the existing infrastructure for managing post-consumer materials and the 25 need for improvements to make this infrastructure convenient for the public; (2) the need for 26 public education to reach target populations; (3) the need for incentives to change consumer 27 behavior; (4) the current extended producer responsibility laws and pending extended producer 28 responsibility legislation in other new england states and around the country; (5) the common 29 elements of extended producer responsibility laws; (6) the opportunities to maximize the 30 efficiency of extended producer responsibility programs by coordinating with other states in the 31 region; and (7) the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of extended producer responsibility 32 programs. 33 The commission shall submit its report of the findings and recommendations together 34 with recommendations for legislation to implement those recommendations by filing the same 35 with the executive office of energy and environmental affairs; the department of environmental 3 of 3 36 protection; the department of business development; the joint committee on environment, natural 37 resources and agriculture; and the clerks of the senate and the house no later than 1 year after the 38 passage of this bill.