The bill, HB1234, amends the Used Tire Recycling and Accountability Act by repealing Arkansas Code 8-6-718, which required regional solid waste management boards to establish waste tire collection centers. It introduces the "Arkansas Commerce Tire Program Act," transitioning the management of waste tire disposal from government oversight to private enterprise, with the aim of saving state funds and fostering private business opportunities while ensuring environmental protections. The bill updates definitions and provisions related to tire recycling, emphasizing the responsibilities of tire generators, retailers, and processors, and prohibits open burning of tires.

Additionally, HB1234 establishes a new "tire environmental fee" of $1.00 per tire sold by wholesalers, replacing the previous rim removal fee structure. This fee will be collected and reported by wholesalers, with proceeds directed to the Tire Environmental Abatement Fund and the Division of Environmental Quality Fee Trust Fund. The bill also modifies licensing requirements for tire transporters, introduces penalties for noncompliance, and allows the Division of Environmental Quality to assess fines for waste tire sites. An emergency clause is included, indicating the urgency of these changes, which will take effect on July 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1234 V2 - 3-14-2023 09:19 AM: 8-6-718, 8-9-401, 8-9-412, 03-14-2023, 8-9-402, 8-9-407, 8-9-404, 8-9-403, 26-18-101, 8-9-405, 8-9-203, 14-21-101, 14-22-101, 14-25-101, 14-77-101, 8-9-408, 8-9-409, 8-9-404(c), 8-9-410, 8-9-411, 8-9-414(b), 8-9-414, 8-9-415, 8-1-101, 8-1-201, 8-4-101, 8-4-201, 8-6-204, 8-6-205, 8-6-207(a), 8-9-105, 8-9-408(c), 8-6-2001, 8-4-314(j), 8-6-206(b), 8-6-2004, 8-9-105(a), 8-9-202(4), 19-5-1148, 19-6-301, 8-9-404(a), 8-9-404(d), 19-5-203, 8-9-404(b)
Old version HB1234 V3 - 3-27-2023 10:40 AM: 8-6-718, 8-9-401, 8-9-412, 03-27-2023, 8-9-402, 8-9-407, 8-9-404, 8-9-403, 26-18-101, 8-9-405, 8-9-203, 14-21-101, 14-22-101, 14-25-101, 14-77-101, 8-9-408, 8-9-409, 8-9-404(c), 8-9-410, 8-9-411, 8-9-414(b), 8-9-414, 8-9-415, 8-1-101, 8-1-201, 8-4-101, 8-4-201, 8-6-204, 8-6-205, 8-6-207(a), 8-9-105, 8-9-408(c), 8-6-2001, 8-4-314(j), 8-6-206(b), 8-6-2004, 8-9-105(a), 8-9-202(4), 19-5-1148, 19-6-301, 8-9-404(a), 8-9-404(d), 19-5-203, 8-9-404(b)
HB 1234: 8-6-718, 8-9-401, 8-9-412, 03-27-2023, 8-9-402, 8-9-407, 8-9-404, 8-9-403, 26-18-101, 8-9-405, 8-9-203, 14-21-101, 14-22-101, 14-25-101, 14-77-101, 8-9-408, 8-9-409, 8-9-404(c), 8-9-410, 8-9-411, 8-9-414(b), 8-9-414, 8-9-415, 8-1-101, 8-1-201, 8-4-101, 8-4-201, 8-6-204, 8-6-205, 8-6-207(a), 8-9-105, 8-9-408(c), 8-6-2001, 8-4-314(j), 8-6-206(b), 8-6-2004, 8-9-105(a), 8-9-202(4), 19-5-1148, 19-6-301, 8-9-404(a), 8-9-404(d), 19-5-203, 8-9-404(b)