CHAPTER 124

HB 253 - FINAL VERSION

 

16Mar2023... 0797h

2023 SESSION

23-0353

08/10

 

HOUSE BILL 253

 

AN ACT establishing a committee to study extended producer responsibility.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Parshall, Ches. 8; Rep. Caplan, Merr. 8; Rep. Dutzy, Hills. 6; Rep. Ebel, Merr. 7

 

COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill establishes a committee to study extended producer responsibility.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

16Mar2023... 0797h 23-0353

08/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

 

AN ACT establishing a committee to study extended producer responsibility.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

124:1  Committee Established.  There is established a committee to study extended producer responsibility in order to provide relief to the cost of municipalities in solid waste disposal.

124:2  Membership and Compensation.

I.  The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a)  Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b)  One member of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II.  Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

124:3  Duties.  The committee shall:

I.  Study extended producer responsibility (EPR) as a mechanism for meeting the waste reduction goals established in RSA 149-M and reducing the tax burden that solid waste disposal places on municipalities.

II.  Examine existing EPR laws in other states, territories, and international jurisdictions and establish priorities for more in-depth study. Possible targets for EPR include packaging, single use plastics, beverage containers, electronic waste, batteries, automotive waste, and hazardous waste.

III.  Assess how these laws could be adapted to the existing solid waste recovery infrastructure in New Hampshire and what support the department of environmental services would require to implement such laws.

IV.  Solicit industry stakeholder input on approaches that manufacturers and distributors would be best able to undertake or facilitate.

V.  Suggest possible legislation and/or rules for implementing approaches that would be readily adaptable to New Hampshire, and may propose topics for further study.

VI.  The committee may draw on a broad range of stakeholders and experts to provide relevant testimony.

124:4  Chairperson; Quorum.  The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members.  The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member.  The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section.  Three members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

124:5  Report.  The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2023.

124:6  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

 

Approved: June 30, 2023

Effective Date: June 30, 2023