SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2483        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2149

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Cynthia Stone Creem

_________________

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 to expand the Bottle Bill.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Cynthia Stone Creem

First Middlesex and Norfolk

 

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

3/2/2021

David Allen Robertson

19th Middlesex

3/2/2021

Michelle L. Ciccolo

15th Middlesex

3/2/2021

Christopher Hendricks

11th Bristol

4/26/2021

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

4/26/2021

Carol A. Doherty

3rd Bristol

4/26/2021

Alice Hanlon Peisch

14th Norfolk

4/29/2021

Susan L. Moran

Plymouth and Barnstable

5/10/2021

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

5/24/2021

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

7/29/2021

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

9/28/2021

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

9/28/2021

Adam G. Hinds

Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden

10/27/2021

Julian Cyr

Cape and Islands

11/4/2021

John J. Cronin

Worcester and Middlesex

11/4/2021

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

11/30/2021

Harriette L. Chandler

First Worcester

11/30/2021


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2483        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2149

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2149) of Cynthia Stone Creem, Joanne M. Comerford, David Allen Robertson and Michelle L. Ciccolo for legislation to expand the Bottle Bill.  Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act to expand the Bottle Bill.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 94 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended in section 321 by striking the definitions of Beverage and Beverage Container, inclusive, and inserting in place thereof the following definitions:-

"Beverage", any drinkable liquid intended for human oral consumption. This definition shall not include nutritive drinks including milk (as defined in FDA 21 CFR 131.110), milk substitutes, non-alcoholic fermented drinks and/or non-carbonated fruit juice made by producers who sell less than 100,000 units a year, any drug regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), infant formula, or a meal replacement liquid.

“Beverage Container”, any prepackaged container made of any material, including glass, plastic, metal, or multi-material, the volume of which is not more than 102 ounces. This definition shall not include beverage container packaging that is a carton, a pouch, or aseptic packaging.

SECTION 2. Chapter 94 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended in section 322 by striking out the word “five” and inserting in place thereof the word “ten”.

SECTION 3. Chapter 94 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended in section 323, in paragraph (b), by inserting after “returned.” the following sentence:- “A redemption center or reverse vending machine is not obligated to count containers or to pay a cash refund at the time the beverage container is returned as long as the amount of the refund value due is placed into an account to be held for the benefit of the consumer and funded in a manner that allows the consumer to obtain deposits due within 2 business days of the time of the return.”

SECTION 4. Chapter 94 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended in section 325, paragraph (b), by striking out the word “five” and inserting in place thereof the word “ten”.

SECTION 5. Chapter 94 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended in section 326, in the first paragraph, by inserting after “sections” the following:- “and shall review handling fees within one year of the effective date of this act, and every four years thereafter.”

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect on December 31, 2021.