2006 Legislative Wrap-up
The 2006 legislative session is behind us, with decidedly mixed results. While most of the attention over the final month was on the fate of bills on the Governor's desk, the real story and legacy of this year is the number and range of priority issues that failed to move forward.

AB 1866 (Karnette) Polystyrene Packaging Prohibition - Support
Summary. Prohibits the sale, possession or distribution of Expanded Polystyrene food containers (commonly called "Styrofoam") by state facilities beginning January of 2008.

Status. AB 1866 failed passage in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in 2006.

AB 1940 (Koretz) Marine Debris Task Force - Support
Summary. Creates a multiagency taskforce to formulate and implement a state plan addressing marine debris.

Status. AB 1940 was put on the Senate Appropriations Committee's suspense file in 2006.

AB 2118 (Matthews) Solid Waste. Conversion Technology Definitions and Regulation
Description: AB 2118 (Matthews) addresses conversion technologies (CT). This bill is still a work in progress. As it stands, AB 2118 would change the definition of composting to include anaerobic digestion, and adds legislative intent to define conversion technology.

Status.This bill failed passage on the Assembly floor in 2006.

AB 2147 (Harman) Compostable Plastics Labeling - Support
Summary. Prohibits labeling plastic food or beverage containers as "biodegradable," "degradable," or "compostable," unless the container meets the current ASTM standard for the term used on the label

Status. AB 2147 was signed by the Governor on September 20, 2006.

AB 2202 (Saldaña) Toxic Electronics Phase Out - Support
Summary. Phases out the use of specified hazardous materials in consumer electronics, consistent with European Union ROHS Directive.

Status. AB 2202 was put on the suspense file in the Senate Appropriations Committee 2006. CAW is currently sponsoring a new bill in 2008, similar to this, AB 218.

AB 2206 (Montañez) Multifamily Recycling - Support
Summary. This measure is aimed at bringing the opportunity of recycling to residents of apartments and other multifamily dwellings.

Status. AB 2206 was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger on September 29, 2006. Read veto message here.

AB 2211 (Karnette) Solid Waste Cleanup - Support
Summary. Expands funding opportunities for local governments to clean up illegally disposed waste, including waste dumped in municipal sewer systems.

Status. AB 2211 was signed by the Governor on September 29, 2006.

AB 2271 (Koretz) Battery Recycling Program - Support
Summary. Establishes a consumer recycling value and financing system for the collection and recycling of household batteries.

Status. AB 2271 was put on hold in the Assembly Appropriations Suspense File in 2006.

AB 2296 (Montañez) Landfill Post Closure Financial Assurance
Summary. This measure will require the CIWMB to study the potential long term threats to the environment from landfills as well as various financial assurance mechanisms that would protect the state from liabiltiy associated with those lonig term threats.

Status. AB 2296 was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger September 27, 2006.

AB 2449 (Levine) Plastic Bag Litter and Waste Reduction
Summary. AB 2449 requires all CA grocery stores to take back and recycle plastic grocery bags. The bill also requires retailers to provide consumers with a bag reuse opportunity. Retailers and manufactures will be required to implement a public education program, and all bags must be labeled 'Please Return to a Participating Store for Recycling.'

Status. AB 2449 was signed by the Governor on September 30, 2006 and its provisions will go into effect July 1, 2007. Read Governor Schwarzenegger's signing message.

AB 3001 (Pavley) Toxic Computer Recycling - Support
Summary. Expands scope of the 2003 SB 20 E-waste Recycling ARF law to include Personal Computers

Status. AB 3001 was put on hold in the Assembly Appropriations Suspense File in 2006.

AB 3056 (Hancock) Bottle Bill Program Funding - Support
Summary.This measure will expand recycling in California by increasing market-based incentives for consumers, recyclers, and end-users of beverage container glass, plastic and aluminum without increasing costs to consumers, local government or taxpayers.

Status.Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 3056 on Sept. 30, 2006. Read the Governor's signing message.

SB 369 (Simitian) Tire Recycling - Support
Summary. This measure extends the sunset date for the local government rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC) grant program at the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB).

Status. Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 369 on September 18, 2006.

SB 928 (Perata) Waste Diversion - Support

Description. Existing law requires a city or county source reduction element to divert 50% of all solid waste from landfill disposal or transformation by January 1, 2000, through source reduction, recycling, and composting activities. This bill would change that percentage to an unspecified amount as of January 1, 2011.

Status. SB 928 died on file in 2006.

CAW Staff Contacts. Scott Smithline, (916) 443-5422

Current Actions. None.

Supporters: CAW

Opponents: Not Yet Registered

Current Language, Analyses and votes.

SB 931 (Florez) Pollution Control Financing - Support
Summary. This measure would restrict new and expanded large scale dairies from receiving taxpayer subsidized financing through the Pollution Control Financing Authority unless they can demonstrate that the facilities can achieve an actual reduction in pollution.

Status. AB 931 failed passage on reconsideration on the Assembly Floor in September 2006.

SB 1305 (Figueroa) Medical Waste - Support
Summary. This measure would prohibit disposal of Hypodermic Needles (Sharps) in household trash.

Status. SB 1305 was approved by Gov. Schwarzenegger on July 12, 2006 and will take effect September 1, 2008.

SB 1344 (Chesbro) Plastic Container Recycling
Summary. Expands compliance options under existing plastic container recycling law for manufacturers that utilize California generated recycled plastic.

Status. The bill was signed by the Governor on August 22, 2006 and has been chaptered by the Secretary of State.

SB 1345 (Chesbro) Composting
Summary. Updates State Rules for Use of Compost.

SB 1573 (Alarcón) Packaging Waste Reduction - Support
Summary. Requires the California Integrated Waste Management Board to update of the Preferred Packaging Procurement Guidelines, originally published by the board in 1994, so as to provide specified information to the private sector and recommend specific changes in state law to assist in reducing and preventing packaging waste.

Status. Although the bill passed the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on April 24, it was held under submission in the Senate Appropriations Committee in May 2006.

SB 1778 (Alarcón) Establishes Incentives for Greenwaste Composting
Summary. SB 1778 would phase out diversion credit for use of greenwaste material as Alternative Daily Cover.

Status.