Amendment ID: S2830-19

Amendment 19

Special Commission on Extended Producer Responsibility

Messrs. Finegold and Payano move that the proposed new draft be amended by striking out section 6 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

"SECTION 6. There shall be a special commission, referred to as the commission on extended producer responsibility, to study and report on implementing extended producer responsibility laws in the commonwealth. The commission shall consist of the secretary of energy and environmental affairs, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of environmental protection, or a designee; 1 representative of the Massachusetts office of business development; 3 members of the house of representatives, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 3 members of the senate, 2 of whom shall be appointed by the senate president and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the senate minority leader; and 2 members who shall be appointed by the governor.

The scope of the commission shall include, but not be limited to, researching, evaluating and developing recommendations regarding the economic, environmental and public health benefits and costs of extended producer responsibility laws related to the manufacture and post-consumer management of products including, but not limited to, the following: leftover paint, electronics, pesticides, household batteries, fluorescent lamps, phone books, carpet, medical sharps, consumer packaging and printed materials, pharmaceuticals, tires and mercury thermostats. The commission shall also research and make recommendations regarding the establishment of a comprehensive product stewardship approach, also known as a framework approach, to create a statewide policy structure for product stewardship that may be applied to an array of products. The commission shall consult with manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, environmental advocacy organizations, local units of government and other interested parties, and shall provide at least one opportunity for public comment and the public review of the commission’s draft report. The commission report shall include, but not be limited to, summaries of the following: (i) the existing infrastructure for managing post-consumer materials and the need for improvements to make such infrastructure convenient for the public; (ii) the need for public education to reach target populations; (iii) the need for incentives to change consumer behavior; (iv) current extended producer responsibility laws and pending extended producer responsibility legislation in other New England states and around the country; (v) the common elements of extended producer responsibility laws; (vi) the opportunities to maximize the efficiency of extended producer responsibility programs by coordinating with other states in the region; and (vii) the methods for evaluating the effectiveness of extended producer responsibility programs.

The commission shall submit its report of the findings and recommendations together with recommendations for legislation to implement such recommendations by filing the same with the executive office of energy and environmental affairs; the department of environmental protection; the Massachusetts office of business development; the joint committee on environment and natural resources; and the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives no later than 1 year after the passage of this act."