The proposed General Assembly Committee Bill No. 1115 seeks to strengthen the enforcement of cross-border bottle redemption prohibitions by amending Section 22a-245 of the general statutes. Key changes include the requirement for individuals establishing a redemption center to receive approval and register annually with the Commissioner of Revenue Services, replacing the previous commissioner. The bill introduces new operational stipulations for redemption centers, such as the necessity for a floor plan that ensures adequate storage and safe access areas, and mandates that centers accepting over 1,200 containers from a single individual in one day must maintain detailed transaction records. Additionally, the Commissioner of Revenue Services is tasked with setting an annual registration fee to support examination and enforcement actions. The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of dealers and distributors regarding the acceptance and redemption of beverage containers, prohibiting dealers from refusing to accept containers unless specific conditions are met, such as the presence of foreign materials or the existence of a nearby redemption center. Distributors are similarly restricted from refusing to accept improperly labeled containers. Furthermore, the bill establishes handling fees for the redemption of various beverage containers and requires the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection to adopt regulations for implementation, including those related to automatic reverse vending machines. To enhance public awareness, a "Redemption Warning" sign must be displayed at redemption locations, and operators must report monthly on redeemed containers. The bill also revises financial management statutes, ensuring deposit initiators are compensated for handling fees and establishing a tiered fine structure for violations, with the authority to suspend or revoke registrations for non-compliance. These changes will take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill:
ENV Joint Favorable:
File No. 666:
JUD Joint Favorable:
FIN Joint Favorable: