Bill Text: TX HB2368 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a study on waste reduction and a statewide waste reduction plan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-29 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB2368 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB2368-Introduced.html
83R9571 JXC-D | ||
By: Allen | H.B. No. 2368 |
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relating to a study on waste reduction and a statewide waste | ||
reduction plan. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: | ||
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on | ||
Environmental Quality. | ||
(2) "Recycling" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
361.421, Health and Safety Code. | ||
(3) "Waste reduction" means reducing the amount and | ||
toxicity of waste, including: | ||
(A) source reduction, as that term is defined by | ||
Section 361.421, Health and Safety Code; | ||
(B) reusing materials or diverting materials | ||
from a waste stream; and | ||
(C) recycling. | ||
SECTION 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) The commission | ||
shall convene an advisory committee established under Chapter 361, | ||
Health and Safety Code. | ||
(b) The commission and the advisory committee shall conduct | ||
a study regarding waste reduction in this state. The study must: | ||
(1) assess current waste reduction efforts and | ||
identify ways in which the private and public sectors can improve | ||
and increase those efforts; | ||
(2) assess the effectiveness of waste reduction | ||
statutes, regulations, and programs in this state; | ||
(3) assess the extent to which waste reduction | ||
programs in this state are duplicative; | ||
(4) investigate available funding for waste reduction | ||
programs in this state; | ||
(5) review waste reduction education programs in this | ||
state; | ||
(6) review standards in use in this state for: | ||
(A) training and certification of waste | ||
reduction professionals; and | ||
(B) reporting amounts of waste recycled; | ||
(7) review waste reduction best practices; | ||
(8) assess the economic effects of waste reduction; | ||
(9) assess job creation opportunities associated with | ||
recycling; and | ||
(10) review recycling activities in this state, | ||
including the materials being recycled and the facilities and | ||
programs that accept or use recycled materials in this state. | ||
(c) The advisory committee shall prepare a written report on | ||
the results of the study, submit the report to the commission, and | ||
collaborate with the commission to publish the study on the | ||
commission's Internet website. | ||
SECTION 3. GOAL UPDATE. The commission shall use the report | ||
described by Section 2 of this Act to reassess whether the source | ||
reduction and recycling goal established under Section 361.422, | ||
Health and Safety Code, is being achieved and how the goal might be | ||
updated. | ||
SECTION 4. PLAN UPDATES. The commission shall recommend to | ||
each entity that has adopted a solid waste management plan under | ||
Subchapter D, Chapter 363, Health and Safety Code, ways in which the | ||
entity can update the plan based on the report described by Section | ||
2 of this Act. | ||
SECTION 5. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than December | ||
1, 2014, the commission shall submit to the lieutenant governor, | ||
the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding | ||
officer of the standing committee of each house of the legislature | ||
with primary jurisdiction over environmental matters a report that | ||
includes the results of the study described by Section 2 of this | ||
Act. | ||
SECTION 6. EXPIRATION. This Act expires August 31, 2015. | ||
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect | ||
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members | ||
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas | ||
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for | ||
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |