Bill Text: CT HB05600 | 2016 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

Connecticut House Bill 5600 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: An Act Concerning Mattress Stewardship Program Recycling Fees.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-07 - File Number 539 [HB05600 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2016-HB05600-Comm_Sub.html

General Assembly		*Substitute Bill No. 5600*
*February Session, 2016*		_____HB05600PD____032116____

AN ACT CONCERNING MATTRESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM RECYCLING FEES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 22a-905a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2017):

(c) The council shall establish and implement a fee structure that covers, but does not exceed, the costs of: [developing] (1) Developing the plan described in subsection (b) of this section, (2) operating and administering the program described in subsection (a) of this section, (3) compensating each municipality that hosts a mattress recycling facility, and (4) maintaining a financial reserve sufficient to operate the program over a multiyear period of time in a fiscally prudent and responsible manner. The portion of the fee structure providing compensation to each municipality that hosts a mattress recycling facility shall be an annual fee equal to twenty-five cents per capita based upon the population of such municipality according to the most recent federal decennial census. The council shall maintain all records relating to the program for a period of not less than three years.

Sec. 2. Subsection (h) of section 22a-905a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2017):

(h) On or before July 1, 2014, and every two years thereafter, the council shall propose a mattress stewardship fee for all mattresses sold in this state except crib and bassinette mattresses. The council may propose a change to the mattress stewardship fee more frequently than once every two years if the council determines such change is needed to avoid funding shortfalls or excesses for the mattress stewardship program. Any proposed mattress stewardship fee shall be reviewed by an auditor to assure that such assessment does not exceed the [cost to fund the mattress stewardship program described in subsection (a) of this section and to maintain financial reserves sufficient to operate said program over a multiyear period in a fiscally prudent and responsible manner] fee structure restrictions established in subsection (c) of this section. Not later than sixty days after the council proposes a mattress stewardship fee, the auditor shall render an opinion to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection as to whether the proposed mattress stewardship fee is reasonable to achieve the goals set forth in this section. If the auditor concludes that the mattress stewardship fee is reasonable, then the proposed fee shall go into effect not less than ninety days after the auditor notifies the commissioner that the fee is reasonable. If the auditor concludes that the mattress stewardship fee is not reasonable, the auditor shall provide the council with written notice explaining the auditor's opinion. Not later than fourteen days after the council's receipt of the auditor's opinion, the council may either propose a new mattress stewardship fee or provide written comments on the auditor's opinion. If the auditor concludes that the fee is not reasonable, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall decide, based on the auditor's opinion and any comments provided by the council, whether to approve the proposed mattress stewardship fee. Such auditor shall be selected by the council. The cost of any work performed by such auditor pursuant to the provisions of this subsection and subsection (k) of this section shall be funded by the mattress stewardship fee described in this subsection.