New York 2009 bill text

Senate Bill 59 / Assembly Bill 159

The following text was excerpted from the page at http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S00059&sh=t

      PART SS
         
            33    Section  1.  Section 27-1001 of the environmental conservation law, as
            34  added by chapter 200 of the laws of 1982, is amended to read as follows:
            35  § 27-1001. Legislative findings.
            36    The legislature hereby finds that litter composed of discarded  [soft-
            37  drink,  beer  and ale bottles and cans] beverage containers is a growing
            38  problem of state concern and a direct threat to the health and safety of
            39  the citizens of  this  state.  Discarded  beverage  [bottles  and  cans]
            40  containers  create  a  hazard to vehicular traffic, a source of physical
            41  injury to pedestrians[,] and farm animals [and], a hazard  to  farm  and
            42  other  machinery  and  an unsightly accumulation of litter which must be
            43  disposed of at increasing public expense. Beverage  [bottles  and  cans]
            44  containers  also create an unnecessary addition to the state's and muni-
            45  cipalities'  already  overburdened  solid  waste  and  refuse   disposal
            46  systems.    Unsegregated  disposal of such [bottles and cans] containers
            47  creates an impediment to the efficient operation  of  resource  recovery
            48  plants.  Further,  the legislature finds that the uninhibited discard of
            49  beverage containers constitutes a  waste  of  both  mineral  and  energy
            50  resources.  The legislature hereby finds that requiring a deposit on all
            51  beverage containers, along with  certain  other  facilitating  measures,
                S. 59--B                           66                          A. 159--B
                                
             1  will  provide  a  necessary incentive for the economically efficient and
             2  environmentally benign collection and recycling of such containers.
             3    §  2.  Subdivisions  1  and  2 of section 27-1003 of the environmental
             4  conservation law, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 778 of the laws of
             5  1988 and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 546 of the  laws  of  1986,
             6  are amended to read as follows:
             7    1.  "Beverage"  means  carbonated  soft drinks, [mineral] water, [soda
             8  water,] beer, other malt beverages and a  wine  product  as  defined  in
             9  subdivision  thirty-six-a  of  section  three  of the alcoholic beverage
            10  control law.  "Malt beverages" means any beverage obtained by the  alco-
            11  holic  fermentation  or  infusion or decoction of barley, malt, hops, or
            12  other wholesome grain or cereal and water including, but not limited  to
            13  ale, stout or malt liquor. "Water" means any beverage identified through
            14  the  use  of letters, words or symbols on its product label as a type of
            15  water, including any flavored water  or  nutritionally  enhanced  water,
            16  provided, however, that "water" does not include any beverage identified
            17  as a type of water to which a sugar has been added.
            18    2.  "Beverage container" means the individual, separate, sealed glass,
            19  metal, aluminum, steel or plastic bottle, can or jar used for containing
            20  less than one gallon or [3.8] 3.78 liters [or less] at the time of  sale
            21  or  offer for sale of a beverage intended for use or consumption in this
            22  state. Beverage containers sold  or  offered  for  sale  or  distributed
            23  aboard  aircraft  or  ships  shall  be considered as intended for use or
            24  consumption outside this state.
            25    § 3. Subdivisions 6 and 9 of  section  27-1003  of  the  environmental
            26  conservation  law,  as  added  by  chapter  200 of the laws of 1982, are
            27  amended and four new subdivisions 2-a, 5-a, 12 and 13 are added to  read
            28  as follows:
            29    2-a. "Bottler" means a person, firm or corporation who:
            30    a.  bottles, cans or otherwise packages beverages in beverage contain-
            31  ers except that if such packaging is for a distributor having the  right
            32  to  bottle,  can  or  otherwise package the same brand of beverage, then
            33  such distributor shall be the bottler; or
            34    b. imports filled beverage containers into the United States.
            35    5-a. A "deposit initiator" for each beverage  container  for  which  a
            36  refund value is established under section 27-1005 of this title means:
            37    a. the bottler of the beverage in such container;
            38    b. the distributor of such container if such distributor's purchase of
            39  such container was not, directly or indirectly, from a registered depos-
            40  it initiator;
            41    c.  a  dealer  of  such  container  who  sells or offers for sale such
            42  container in this state, whose  purchase  of  such  container  was  not,
            43  directly or indirectly, from a registered deposit initiator; or
            44    d. an agent acting on behalf of a registered deposit initiator.
            45    6.    "Distributor"  means  any  person,  firm  or  corporation  which
            46  [bottles, cans or otherwise fills or packages  beverage  containers,  or
            47  which]  engages  in  the  sale  or offer for sale of [such] beverages in
            48  beverage containers to a dealer.
            49    9. "Redemption center" means any [establishment offering  to  pay  the
            50  refund  value of a beverage container] person offering to pay the refund
            51  value of an empty beverage container to a redeemer, or  any  person  who
            52  contracts  with one or more dealers or distributors to collect, sort and
            53  obtain the refund value and handling fee of  empty  beverage  containers
            54  for, or on behalf of, such dealer or distributor under the provisions of
            55  section 27-1013 of this title.
                S. 59--B                           67                          A. 159--B
         
             1    12.  "Reverse  vending  machine" means an automated device that uses a
             2  laser scanner, microprocessor, or other technology to accurately  recog-
             3  nize  the universal product code (UPC) on containers to determine if the
             4  container is redeemable and accumulates information regarding containers
             5  redeemed,  including  the  number  of  such containers redeemed, thereby
             6  enabling the reverse vending machine to accept containers from redeemers
             7  and to issue a scrip or receipt for their refund value.
             8    13. "Universal product code" or "UPC code" means a standard for encod-
             9  ing a set of lines and spaces that can be scanned and  interpreted  into
            10  numbers  to identify a product. Universal product code may also mean any
            11  accepted industry barcode which replaces the UPC code including EAN  and
            12  other codes that may be used to identify a product.
            13    §  4.  Sections  27-1005 and 27-1007 of the environmental conservation
            14  law are REPEALED and two new sections 27-1005 and 27-1007 are  added  to
            15  read as follows:
            16  § 27-1005. Refund value.
            17    No  person  shall  sell or offer for sale a beverage container in this
            18  state unless the deposit on such  beverage  container  is  or  has  been
            19  collected  by  a  registered deposit initiator and unless such container
            20  has a refund value of not less than five cents which  is  clearly  indi-
            21  cated thereon as provided in section 27-1011 of this title.
            22  § 27-1007. Mandatory acceptance.
            23    Except as provided in section 27-1009 of this title:
            24    1.  (a)  A  dealer shall accept at his or her place of business from a
            25  redeemer any empty beverage  containers  of  the  design,  shape,  size,
            26  color, composition and brand sold or offered for sale by the dealer, and
            27  shall  pay  to  the  redeemer  the  refund  value  of each such beverage
            28  container as established in section 27-1005 of this  title.  Redemptions
            29  of  refund  value  must be in legal tender, or a scrip or receipt from a
            30  reverse vending machine, provided that  the  scrip  or  receipt  can  be
            31  exchanged  for  legal  tender  for  a period of not less than sixty days
            32  without requiring the purchase of other goods.  The use or presence of a
            33  reverse vending machine shall not relieve a dealer  of  any  obligations
            34  imposed  pursuant to this section.  If a dealer utilizes a reverse vend-
            35  ing machine to redeem containers, the dealer shall provide redemption of
            36  beverage containers when the reverse vending machine  is  full,  broken,
            37  under  repair  or  does  not accept a type of beverage container sold or
            38  offered for sale by such dealer and may not limit the hours or  days  of
            39  redemption except as provided by subdivision three of this section.
            40    (b)  Beginning  March first, two thousand ten, a dealer whose place of
            41  business is part of a chain engaged in the same general field  of  busi-
            42  ness  which operates ten or more units in this state under common owner-
            43  ship and whose business exceeds: (i) forty thousand square feet  but  is
            44  less than sixty thousand square feet shall install and maintain at least
            45  three  reverse  vending machines at the dealer's place of business; (ii)
            46  sixty thousand square feet but is less than eighty-five thousand  square
            47  feet  shall  install and maintain at least four reverse vending machines
            48  at the dealer's place of business; or (iii) eighty-five thousand  square
            49  feet  shall install and maintain at least eight reverse vending machines
            50  at the dealer's place of business; provided, however, that the  require-
            51  ments of this paragraph to install and maintain reverse vending machines
            52  shall  not  apply  to  a  dealer  that  sells only refrigerated beverage
            53  containers of twenty ounces or less where  each  beverage  container  is
            54  sold  as  an  individual  container that is not connected to or packaged
            55  with any other beverage container.
                S. 59--B                           68                          A. 159--B
         
             1    (c) A dealer to which paragraph (b) of this subdivision does not apply
             2  and whose place of business is at least forty thousand square feet which
             3  does not utilize reverse vending  machines  to  process  empty  beverage
             4  containers  for redemption shall: (i) establish and maintain a dedicated
             5  area  within such business to accept beverage containers for redemption;
             6  (ii) adequately staff such area to facilitate efficient  acceptance  and
             7  processing  of such containers during business hours; and (iii) post one
             8  or more conspicuous signs conforming to the size and color  requirements
             9  described  in subdivision two of this section at each public entrance to
            10  the business which describes where in the business the  redemption  area
            11  is  located.  The  commissioner  may  establish in rules and regulations
            12  additional standards for the efficient processing of beverage containers
            13  by such dealers.
            14    (d) For the purposes of this subdivision on any day that a  dealer  is
            15  open  for less than twenty-four hours, the dealer may restrict or refuse
            16  the payment of refund values during the first and last hour  the  dealer
            17  is open for business.
            18    2.  A dealer shall post a conspicuous sign, at the point of sale, that
            19  states:
            20                       "NEW YORK BOTTLE BILL OF RIGHTS
         
            21          STATE LAW REQUIRES US TO REDEEM EMPTY RETURNABLE BEVERAGE
            22    CONTAINERS OF THE SAME TYPE AND BRAND THAT WE SELL OR OFFER FOR SALE
         
            23  YOU HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS UNDER THE NEW YORK  STATE  RETURNABLE  CONTAINER
            24  ACT:
            25    THE  RIGHT  to  return your empties for refund to any dealer who sells
            26  the same brand, type and size, whether you bought the beverage from  the
            27  dealer  or  not.  It is illegal to return containers for refund that you
            28  did not pay a deposit on in New York state.
            29    THE RIGHT to get  your  deposit  refund  in  cash,  without  proof  of
            30  purchase.
            31    THE  RIGHT  to  return  your empties any day, any hour, except for the
            32  first and last hour of the dealer's business day (empty  containers  may
            33  be redeemed at any time in 24-hour stores).
            34    THE  RIGHT  to  return  your  containers if they are empty and intact.
            35  Washing containers is not required by law, but is  strongly  recommended
            36  to maintain sanitary conditions.
            37    The New York state returnable container act can be enforced by the New
            38  York  state department of environmental conservation, the New York state
            39  department of agriculture and markets, the New York state department  of
            40  taxation and finance, the New York state attorney general and/or by your
            41  local government."
            42    Such  sign must be no less than eight inches by ten inches in size and
            43  have lettering a minimum of one quarter inch high, and of a color  which
            44  contrasts  with  the  background.   The department shall maintain a toll
            45  free telephone number for a "bottle bill complaint line" that  shall  be
            46  available  from  9:00  a.m.  to  5:00  p.m. each business day to receive
            47  reports of violations of this title. The telephone number shall be list-
            48  ed on any sign required by this section.
            49    3. On or after June first, two thousand nine, a dealer may  limit  the
            50  number of empty beverage containers to be accepted for redemption at the
            51  dealer's  place  of  business to no less than seventy-two containers per
            52  visit, per redeemer, per day, provided that:
            53    (a) The dealer has a written agreement with a redemption center, be it
            54  either at a fixed physical location within the same  county  and  within
                S. 59--B                           69                          A. 159--B
         
             1  one-half  mile of the dealer's place of business, or a mobile redemption
             2  center, operated by a redemption center, that  is  located  within  one-
             3  quarter  mile  of the dealer's place of business.  The redemption center
             4  must  have  a  written agreement with the dealer to accept containers on
             5  behalf of the dealer; and the redemption  center's  hours  of  operation
             6  must  cover at least 9:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. daily or in the case of
             7  a mobile redemption center, the hours of operation must cover  at  least
             8  four consecutive hours between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. daily. The dealer
             9  must  post  a  conspicuous,  permanent  sign, meeting the size and color
            10  specifications set forth in subdivision two of  this  section,  open  to
            11  public  view,  identifying  the  location  and hours of operation of the
            12  affiliated redemption center or mobile redemption center; and
            13    (b) The dealer provides, at a minimum, a consecutive two  hour  period
            14  between  7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. daily whereby the dealer will accept up
            15  to two hundred forty containers, per redeemer,  per  day,  and  posts  a
            16  conspicuous,  permanent  sign, meeting the size and color specifications
            17  set forth in subdivision two of this section, open to public view, iden-
            18  tifying those hours. The dealer may not change the hours  of  redemption
            19  without first posting a thirty day notice; and
            20    (c) The dealer's primary business is the sale of food or beverages for
            21  consumption  off-premises,  and  the  dealer's place of business is less
            22  than ten thousand square feet in size.
            23    4. A deposit initiator shall accept from a dealer  or  operator  of  a
            24  redemption  center  any  empty  beverage container of the design, shape,
            25  size, color, composition and brand sold  or  offered  for  sale  by  the
            26  deposit  initiator, and shall pay the dealer or operator of a redemption
            27  center the refund value of each such beverage container  as  established
            28  by  section 27-1005 of this title.  A deposit initiator shall accept and
            29  redeem all such empty beverage containers from a  dealer  or  redemption
            30  center without limitation on quantity.
            31    5.  A  deposit  initiator's  or distributor's failure to pick up empty
            32  beverage containers, including containers processed in a reverse vending
            33  machine, from a redemption center, dealer or the operator of  a  reverse
            34  vending machine, shall be a violation of this title.
            35    6.  In  addition to the refund value of a beverage container as estab-
            36  lished by section 27-1005 of this title, a deposit initiator  shall  pay
            37  to any dealer or operator of a redemption center a handling fee of three
            38  and  one-half  cents for each beverage container accepted by the deposit
            39  initiator from such dealer or operator of a redemption center.   Payment
            40  of the handling fee shall be as compensation for collecting, sorting and
            41  packaging of empty beverage containers for transport back to the deposit
            42  initiator or its designee. Payment of the handling fee may not be condi-
            43  tioned on the purchase of any goods or services, nor may such payment be
            44  made  out  of  the  refund value account established pursuant to section
            45  27-1012 of this title. A distributor who does not initiate deposits on a
            46  type of beverage container is considered a dealer only for  the  purpose
            47  of receiving a handling fee from a deposit initiator.
            48    7.  A deposit initiator on a brand shall accept from a distributor who
            49  does not initiate deposits on that brand any empty  beverage  containers
            50  of that brand accepted by the distributor from a dealer or operator of a
            51  redemption  center  and shall reimburse the distributor the refund value
            52  of each such beverage container, as established by  section  27-1005  of
            53  this  title.  In  addition,  the  deposit initiator shall reimburse such
            54  distributor for each such beverage container  the  handling  fee  estab-
            55  lished  under  subdivision  six  of this section.   Without limiting the
            56  rights of the department or any person, firm or corporation  under  this
                S. 59--B                           70                          A. 159--B
         
             1  subdivision  or any other provision of this section, a distributor shall
             2  have a civil right of action to  enforce  this  subdivision,  including,
             3  upon three days notice, the right to apply for temporary and preliminary
             4  injunctive  relief against continuing violations, and until arrangements
             5  for collection and return of empty containers or reimbursement  of  such
             6  distributor for such deposits and handling fees are made.
             7    8.    It  shall  be  the  responsibility  of  the deposit initiator or
             8  distributor to provide to a dealer or  redemption  center  a  sufficient
             9  number  of  bags, cartons, or other suitable containers, at no cost, for
            10  the packaging, handling and pickup of empty beverage containers that are
            11  not redeemed through a reverse vending machine.  The bags,  cartons,  or
            12  containers must be provided by the deposit initiator or distributor on a
            13  schedule  that allows the dealer or redemption center sufficient time to
            14  sort the empty beverage containers prior  to  pick  up  by  the  deposit
            15  initiator or distributor. In addition:
            16    (a)  When picking up empty beverage containers, a deposit initiator or
            17  distributor shall not require a dealer  or  redemption  center  to  load
            18  their  own  bags,  cartons or containers onto or into the deposit initi-
            19  ator's or distributor's vehicle or vehicles  or  provide  the  staff  or
            20  equipment needed to do so.
            21    (b)  A  deposit  initiator  or  distributor  shall  not  require empty
            22  containers to be counted at a location other than the redemption  center
            23  or  dealer's  place  of  business. The dealer or redemption center shall
            24  have the right to be present at the count.
            25    (c) A deposit initiator or distributor shall pick  up  empty  beverage
            26  containers  from the dealer or redemption center at reasonable times and
            27  intervals as determined in  rules  or  regulations  promulgated  by  the
            28  department.
            29    9.  No  person shall return or assist another to return to a dealer or
            30  redemption center an empty beverage container for its  refund  value  if
            31  such  container had previously been accepted for redemption by a dealer,
            32  redemption center, or deposit initiator who initiates deposits on bever-
            33  age containers of the same brand.
            34    10. A redeemer, dealer, distributor or  redemption  center  shall  not
            35  knowingly  redeem  an  empty  beverage  container on which a deposit was
            36  never paid in New York state.
            37    11. Notwithstanding the  provisions  of  subdivision  two  of  section
            38  27-1009  of  this title, a deposit initiator or distributor shall accept
            39  and redeem beverage containers as provided in this title, if the  dealer
            40  or  operator  of  a  redemption  center shall have accepted and paid the
            41  refund value of such beverage containers.
            42    § 5. Section 27-1009 of the environmental conservation law,  as  added
            43  by chapter 200 of the laws of 1982, is amended to read as follows:
            44  § 27-1009. Refusal of acceptance.
            45    1.  A  dealer  or operator of a redemption center may refuse to accept
            46  from a redeemer, and a [distributor] deposit  initiator  or  distributor
            47  may  refuse  to  accept from a dealer or operator of a redemption center
            48  any empty beverage container which does not state thereon a refund value
            49  as established by section 27-1005 and provided  by  section  27-1011  of
            50  this title.
            51    2.  A  dealer  or  operator  of a redemption center may also refuse to
            52  accept any broken bottle, corroded or dismembered can, or  any  beverage
            53  container  which  contains  a significant amount of foreign material, as
            54  determined in rules and regulations to be promulgated by the commission-
            55  er. [Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision,  a  distributor
            56  shall  accept  beverage  containers  as  provided  in subdivision two of
                S. 59--B                           71                          A. 159--B
        
             1  section 27-1007 of this title, if the dealer  shall  have  accepted  and
             2  paid the refund value of such beverage containers.]
             3    §  6.  Subdivision 2 of section 27-1011 of the environmental conserva-
             4  tion law is REPEALED.
             5    § 7. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of  section  27-1011  of  the  environmental
             6  conservation law, subdivision 3 as amended by chapter 834 of the laws of
             7  1984  and  subdivision  4 as amended by chapter 149 of the laws of 1983,
             8  are amended to read as follows:
             9    [3.] 2. No deposit initiator, distributor  or  dealer  shall  sell  or
            10  offer for sale, at wholesale or retail in this state, any metal beverage
            11  container designed and constructed with a part of the container which is
            12  detachable  in  opening  the  container unless such detachable part will
            13  decompose by photodegradation or biodegradation.
            14    [4.] 3. No deposit initiator, distributor  or  dealer  shall  sell  or
            15  offer for sale in this state beverage containers connected to each other
            16  by  a  separate  holding  device  constructed  of plastic which does not
            17  decompose by photodegradation or biodegradation.
            18    § 8. The environmental conservation law is amended  by  adding  a  new
            19  section 27-1012 to read as follows:
            20  §  27-1012. Deposit  and  disposition  of  refund  values; registration;
            21             reports.
            22    1. Each deposit initiator shall deposit in a refund value  account  an
            23  amount equal to the refund value initiated under section 27-1005 of this
            24  title  which is received with respect to each beverage container sold by
            25  such deposit initiator.  Such deposit initiator shall hold  the  amounts
            26  in  the  refund  value  account  in  trust for the state. A refund value
            27  account shall be an interest-bearing account established  in  a  banking
            28  institution  located in this state, the deposits in which are insured by
            29  an agency of the federal government. Deposits of such amounts  into  the
            30  refund  value  account shall be made not less frequently than every five
            31  business days. All interest, dividends and returns earned on the  refund
            32  value  account  shall  be paid directly into said account. The monies in
            33  such accounts shall be kept separate and apart from all other monies  in
            34  the  possession  of  the deposit initiator. The commissioner of taxation
            35  and finance may specify a system of accounts and  records  to  be  main-
            36  tained with respect to accounts established under this subdivision.
            37    2. Payments of refund values pursuant to section 27-1007 of this title
            38  shall  be  paid  from  each deposit initiator's refund value account. No
            39  other payment or withdrawal from such account  may  be  made  except  as
            40  prescribed by this section.
            41    3.  Each  deposit  initiator  shall  file  quarterly  reports with the
            42  commissioner of taxation and  finance  on  a  form  and  in  the  manner
            43  prescribed  by  such  commissioner.  The  commissioner  of  taxation and
            44  finance may require such reports to be filed electronically.  The  quar-
            45  terly  reports required by this subdivision shall be filed for the quar-
            46  terly periods ending on the last day of May, August, November and Febru-
            47  ary of each year, and each such report shall be filed within twenty days
            48  after the end of the quarterly period covered thereby. Each such  report
            49  shall  include  all information such commissioner shall determine appro-
            50  priate including but not limited to the following information:
            51    a. the balance in the refund value account at  the  beginning  of  the
            52  quarter for which the report is prepared;
            53    b.  all  such  deposits  credited  to the refund value account and all
            54  interest, dividends or returns received on  such  account,  during  such
            55  quarter;
                S. 59--B                           72                          A. 159--B
         
             1    c.  all withdrawals from the refund value account during such quarter,
             2  including all reimbursements paid pursuant to subdivision  two  of  this
             3  section,  all  service  charges  on  the  account, and all payments made
             4  pursuant to subdivision four of this section; and
             5    d.  the balance in the refund value account at the close of such quar-
             6  ter.
             7    4. a. Quarterly payments.  An amount equal to eighty  percent  of  the
             8  balance  outstanding  in  the  refund value account at the close of each
             9  quarter shall be paid to the commissioner of taxation and finance at the
            10  time the report provided for in subdivision three  of  this  section  is
            11  required  to  be  filed.    The commissioner of taxation and finance may
            12  require that the payments be made electronically.  The remaining  twenty
            13  percent of the balance outstanding at the close of each quarter shall be
            14  the  monies  of  the  deposit  initiator  and may be withdrawn from such
            15  account by the deposit initiator.   If the provisions  of  this  section
            16  with  respect  to  such  account have not been fully complied with, each
            17  deposit initiator shall pay to such commissioner at such time,  in  lieu
            18  of  the  amount  described in the preceding sentence, an amount equal to
            19  the balance which would have been outstanding  on  such  date  had  such
            20  provisions  been  fully complied with.  The commissioner of taxation and
            21  finance may require that the payments be made electronically.
            22    b. Refund value account shortfall.  In the event a  deposit  initiator
            23  pays  out  more  in refund values than it collects in deposits of refund
            24  values during the course of a quarterly period as described in  subdivi-
            25  sion  three  of  this  section,  the  deposit initiator may apply to the
            26  commissioner of taxation and finance for a refund of the amount of  such
            27  excess payment of refund values from sources other than the refund value
            28  account,  in  the manner as provided by the commissioner of taxation and
            29  finance.  A deposit initiator must apply for  a  refund  no  later  than
            30  twelve months after the due date for filing the quarterly report for the
            31  quarterly  period  for which the refund claim is made. No interest shall
            32  be payable for any refund paid pursuant to this paragraph.
            33    c. Final report. A deposit initiator who ceases to do business in this
            34  state as a deposit initiator shall file a final report and remit payment
            35  of eighty percent of all amounts remaining in the refund  value  account
            36  as  of  the  close  of the deposit initiator's last day of business. The
            37  commissioner of taxation and finance may require that  the  payments  be
            38  made  electronically. The deposit initiator shall indicate on the report
            39  that it is a "final report". The final report is due to  be  filed  with
            40  payment twenty days after the close of the quarterly period in which the
            41  deposit initiator ceases to do business. In the event the deposit initi-
            42  ator pays out more in refund values than it collects in such final quar-
            43  terly  period,  the  deposit  initiator may apply to the commissioner of
            44  taxation and finance for a refund of the amount of such  excess  payment
            45  of  refund  values  from sources other than the refund value account, in
            46  the manner as provided by the commissioner of taxation and finance.
            47    5. All monies collected or received by the department of taxation  and
            48  finance  pursuant  to this title shall be deposited to the credit of the
            49  comptroller with such responsible banks, banking houses or trust  compa-
            50  nies  as  may  be  designated by the comptroller. Such deposits shall be
            51  kept separate and apart from all other moneys in the possession  of  the
            52  comptroller.  The  comptroller  shall require adequate security from all
            53  such depositories. Of the total revenue collected, the comptroller shall
            54  retain the amount determined by the commissioner of taxation and finance
            55  to be necessary for refunds out of which the comptroller  must  pay  any
            56  refunds  to  which a deposit initiator may be entitled.  After reserving
                S. 59--B                           73                          A. 159--B
         
             1  the amount to pay refunds, the comptroller must, by  the  tenth  day  of
             2  each  month,  pay  into  the state treasury to the credit of the general
             3  fund the revenue deposited under this subdivision during  the  preceding
             4  calendar month and remaining to the comptroller's credit on the last day
             5  of that preceding month.
             6    6. The commissioner and the commissioner of taxation and finance shall
             7  promulgate, and shall consult each other in promulgating, such rules and
             8  regulations  as  may  be  necessary  to  effectuate the purposes of this
             9  title. The commissioner and the commissioner  of  taxation  and  finance
            10  shall  provide all necessary aid and assistance to each other, including
            11  the sharing of any information that is  necessary  to  their  respective
            12  administration   and   enforcement   responsibilities  pursuant  to  the
            13  provisions of this title.

    
    14    7. a. Any person who is a deposit initiator under  this  title  before    15  April  first,  two thousand nine, must apply by June first, two thousand
            16  nine to the commissioner of taxation and finance for registration  as  a
            17  deposit  initiator.    Any  person who becomes a deposit initiator on or
            18  after April first, two thousand nine shall apply for registration  prior
            19  to collecting any deposits as such a deposit initiator. Such application
            20  shall  be  in  a  form  prescribed  by  the commissioner of taxation and
            21  finance and shall require such information deemed to  be  necessary  for
            22  proper  administration  of this title.  The commissioner of taxation and
            23  finance may require that applications for registration must be submitted
            24  electronically.  The commissioner of taxation and  finance  shall  elec-
            25  tronically  issue a deposit initiator registration certificate in a form
            26  prescribed by the commissioner of taxation and  finance  within  fifteen
            27  days  of  receipt of such application or may take an additional ten days
            28  if the commissioner of  taxation  and  finance  deems  it  necessary  to
            29  consult  with  the commissioner before issuing such registration certif-
            30  icate. A registration certificate issued pursuant  to  this  subdivision
            31  may  be  issued  for  a  specified term of not less than three years and
            32  shall be subject to renewal in accordance with procedures  specified  by
            33  the  commissioner  of taxation and finance. The commissioner of taxation
            34  and finance shall furnish to the commissioner a complete list of  regis-
            35  tered  deposit  initiators  and  shall  continually  update such list as
            36  warranted. The commissioner shall share any information with the commis-
            37  sioner of taxation and finance that is necessary for the  administration
            38  of this subdivision.
            39    b.  The  commissioner of taxation and finance shall have the authority
            40  to revoke or refuse to renew any registration issued  pursuant  to  this
            41  subdivision  when  he  or she has determined or has been informed by the
            42  commissioner that any of the provisions of this title or rules and regu-
            43  lations promulgated thereunder have been violated. Such violations shall
            44  include, but not be limited to, the failure to file  quarterly  reports,
            45  the failure to make payments pursuant to this subdivision, the providing
            46  of  false or fraudulent information to either the department of taxation
            47  and finance or the department, or knowingly aiding or  abetting  another
            48  person  in  violating  any  of the provisions of this title. A notice of
            49  proposed revocation or non-renewal shall be given to the deposit  initi-
            50  ator  in the manner prescribed for a notice of deficiency of tax and all
            51  the provisions applicable to a notice of deficiency under article  twen-
            52  ty-seven  of the tax law shall apply to a notice issued pursuant to this
            53  paragraph, insofar as such provisions can be made applicable to a notice
            54  authorized by this paragraph, with such modifications as may  be  neces-
            55  sary  in  order  to  adapt the language of such provisions to the notice
            56  authorized by this paragraph. All such notices issued by the commission-
                S. 59--B                           74                          A. 159--B
         
             1  er of taxation and finance pursuant to this paragraph  shall  contain  a
             2  statement  advising the deposit initiator that the revocation or non-re-
             3  newal of registration may be challenged through a  hearing  process  and
             4  the petition for such a challenge must be filed with the commissioner of
             5  taxation  and  finance within ninety days after such notice is issued. A
             6  deposit initiator whose registration has been so revoked or not  renewed
             7  shall  cease  to do business as a deposit initiator in this state, until
             8  this title has been complied  with  and  a  new  registration  has  been
             9  issued. Any deposit initiator whose registration has been so revoked may
            10  not  apply  for registration for two years from the date such revocation
            11  takes effect.
            12    8. The commissioner of taxation and finance may  require  the  mainte-
            13  nance  of  such  accounts,  records or documents relating to the sale of
            14  beverage containers, by any  deposit  initiator,  bottler,  distributor,
            15  dealer  or  redemption  center as such commissioner may deem appropriate
            16  for the administration of this section. Such commissioner may make exam-
            17  inations, including the conduct of facility inspections  during  regular
            18  business  hours,  with  respect  to  the  accounts, records or documents
            19  required to be  maintained  under  this  subdivision.    Such  accounts,
            20  records  and  documents  shall be preserved for a period of three years,
            21  except that such commissioner may consent to  their  destruction  within
            22  that  period  or  may  require that they be kept longer.  Such accounts,
            23  records and documents may be kept within the meaning of this subdivision
            24  when reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, micro-card,
            25  miniature photographic or other process which  actually  reproduces  the
            26  original accounts, records or documents.
            27    9.  a.  Any  person  required to be registered under this section who,
            28  without being so registered, sells or offers for sale beverage  contain-
            29  ers  in  this  state,  in  addition to any other penalty imposed by this
            30  title, shall be subject to a penalty to be assessed by the  commissioner
            31  of  taxation and finance in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars
            32  for the first day on which such sales or offers for sale are made,  plus
            33  an  amount not to exceed five hundred dollars for each subsequent day on
            34  which such sales or offers for sale are made, not to exceed  twenty-five
            35  thousand dollars in the aggregate.
            36    b.  Any  deposit  initiator  who fails to maintain accounts or records
            37  pursuant to this section, unless it is shown that such failure  was  due
            38  to  reasonable  cause  and  not due to negligence or willful neglect, in
            39  addition to any other penalty imposed by this title, shall be subject to
            40  a penalty to be assessed by the commissioner of taxation and finance  of
            41  not  more  than  one thousand dollars for each quarter during which such
            42  failure occurred, and an additional penalty of not more than  one  thou-
            43  sand dollars for each quarter such failure continues.
            44    10.  The provisions of article twenty-seven of the tax law shall apply
            45  to the provisions of this title for which the commissioner  of  taxation
            46  and  finance  is  responsible,  including  collection  of  refund  value
            47  amounts, in the same manner and with the same force and effect as if the
            48  language of such article had been incorporated in full into this section
            49  except to the extent that any provision of such article is either incon-
            50  sistent with a provision of this section or  is  not  relevant  to  this
            51  section  as  determined  by  the  commissioner  of taxation and finance.
            52  Furthermore, for purposes of applying the provisions of article  twenty-
            53  seven  of  the tax law, where the terms "tax" and "taxes" appear in such
            54  article, such terms  shall  be  construed  to  mean  "refund  value"  or
            55  "balance in the refund value account".
                S. 59--B                           75                          A. 159--B
         
             1    11.  If  any  deposit  initiator  fails or refuses to file a report or
             2  furnish any information requested in writing by the department of  taxa-
             3  tion  and  finance  or  the  department,  the department of taxation and
             4  finance with the assistance of the department may, from any  information
             5  in  its  possession, make an estimate of the deficiency and collect such
             6  deficiency from such deposit initiator.
             7    12. Beginning on June first, two thousand nine each deposit  initiator
             8  shall  register  the container label of any beverage offered for sale in
             9  the state on which it initiates a deposit. Any such registered container
            10  label shall bear a universal product code.  Such universal product  code
            11  shall  be  New  York  state  specific, in order to identify the beverage
            12  container as offered for sale exclusively in New York state,  and  as  a
            13  means  of preventing illegal redemption of beverage containers purchased
            14  out-of-state.   Registration must be  on  forms  as  prescribed  by  the
            15  department and must include the universal product code for each combina-
            16  tion  of  beverage  and  container  manufactured.  The  commissioner may
            17  require that such forms be filed electronically.  The deposit  initiator
            18  shall  renew  a  label  registration  whenever  that label is revised by
            19  altering the universal product code or whenever the container  on  which
            20  it appears is changed in size, composition or glass color.
            21    § 9. Section 27-1013 of the environmental conservation law, as amended
            22  by chapter 149 of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as follows:
            23  § 27-1013. Redemption centers.
            24    The  commissioner  is  hereby  empowered to promulgate rules and regu-
            25  lations governing (1) the circumstances in which dealers  and  distribu-
            26  tors, individually or collectively, are required to accept the return of
            27  empty beverage containers, and make payment therefor; (2) the sorting of
            28  the  containers  which a deposit initiator or distributor may require of
            29  dealers and redemption centers; (3) the [pick up] collection of returned
            30  beverage containers by deposit initiators or distributors, including the
            31  party to whom such expense is to be charged, the frequency of such  pick
            32  ups and the payment for refunds and handling fees thereon; (4) the right
            33  of  dealers  to restrict or limit the number of containers redeemed, the
            34  rules for redemption at the dealers' place of business, and the  redemp-
            35  tion  of containers from a beverage for which sales have been discontin-
            36  ued, and to issue permits to persons, firms or corporations which estab-
            37  lish redemption centers, subject to applicable provisions of  local  and
            38  state  laws,  at  which  redeemers and dealers may return empty beverage
            39  containers and receive payment of the  refund  value  of  such  beverage
            40  containers.  No  dealer or distributor, as defined in section 27-1003 of
            41  this title, shall be required to obtain a permit to operate a redemption
            42  center at the same location as the dealer's or  distributor's  place  of
            43  business.  Operators of such redemption centers shall receive payment of
            44  the refund  value  of  each  beverage  container  from  the  appropriate
            45  [manufacturerdeposit  initiator  or  distributor  as  provided  under
            46  [sections] section 27-1007 [and 27-1009] of this title.
            47    § 10. Section 27-1014 of the environmental conservation law, as  added
            48  by chapter 149 of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as follows:
            49  §  27-1014.  [Limitation  onAuthority  to  promulgate rules and regu-
            50                  lations.
            51    In addition to the  authority  of  the  commissioner,  under  sections
            52  27-1009 and 27-1013 of this title, the commissioner shall [only have the
            53  power  to  promulgate  rules and regulations governing the initiation of
            54  deposits, sale of beverages in containers through vending  machines  and
            55  for  on-premises  consumption,  record keeping, refunding for refillable
            56  beverage containers, embossing, imprinting or labeling of refund  values
                S. 59--B                           76                          A. 159--B
        
             1  and  enforcement  of the provisions of this section and sections 27-1009
             2  and 27-1013 of this title] have the power to promulgate rules and  regu-
             3  lations necessary and appropriate [to] for the [implementation] adminis-
             4  tration of this title.
             5    §  11. Section 27-1015 of the environmental conservation law, as added
             6  by chapter 200 of the laws of 1982,  subdivision  1  as  designated  and
             7  subdivision 2 as added by chapter 149 of the laws of 1983, is amended to
             8  read as follows:
             9  § 27-1015. Violations.
            10    1.  A  violation  of  this title, except as otherwise provided in this
            11  section and section 27-1012 of this title, shall be a  public  nuisance.
            12  In  addition,  except  as otherwise provided in this section and section
            13  27-1012 of this title, any person who shall  violate  any  provision  of
            14  this  title shall be liable to the state of New York for a civil penalty
            15  of not more than five hundred dollars, and an additional  civil  penalty
            16  of  not  more  than  five hundred dollars for each day during which each
            17  such violation continues. Any civil penalty may be assessed following  a
            18  hearing or opportunity to be heard.
            19    2.  Any distributor or deposit initiator who violates any provision of
            20  this title, except as provided in section 27-1012 of this  title,  shall
            21  be  liable to the state of New York for a civil penalty of not more than
            22  one thousand dollars, and an additional civil penalty of not  more  than
            23  one  thousand  dollars  for  each  day  during which each such violation
            24  continues. Any civil penalty may be  assessed  following  a  hearing  or
            25  opportunity to be heard.
            26    3. It shall be unlawful for a distributor or deposit initiator, acting
            27  alone  or  aided  by  another, to return any empty beverage [containers]
            28  container to a dealer or redemption center for [their] its refund  value
            29  if  the  distributor  or  deposit initiator had previously accepted such
            30  beverage [containers] container from any dealer or operator of a redemp-
            31  tion center. A violation of this  subdivision  shall  be  a  misdemeanor
            32  punishable by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars nor more than
            33  one  thousand  dollars  and  an  amount equal to two times the amount of
            34  money received as a result of such violation.
            35    4. Any person who willfully tenders to a dealer, distributor,  redemp-
            36  tion  center  or  deposit initiator more than forty-eight empty beverage
            37  containers for which such person knows or should reasonably know that no
            38  deposit was paid in New York state may be assessed by the  department  a
            39  civil  penalty  of up to one hundred dollars for each container or up to
            40  twenty-five thousand dollars for each such tender of containers. At each
            41  location where a person tenders containers for redemption,  dealers  and
            42  redemption centers must conspicuously display a sign in letters that are
            43  at  least  one  inch in height with the following information: "WARNING:
            44  Persons tendering for redemption containers on which a deposit was never
            45  paid in this state may be subject to  a  civil  penalty  of  up  to  one
            46  hundred  dollars per container or up to twenty-five thousand dollars for
            47  each such tender of containers."   Any civil  penalty  may  be  assessed
            48  following a hearing or opportunity to be heard.
            49    5.  The  department,  the  department  of agriculture and markets, the
            50  department of taxation and finance and the attorney general  are  hereby
            51  authorized  to  enforce  the provisions of this title.  In addition, the
            52  provisions of section 27-1005 of this title and subdivisions  one,  two,
            53  three,  four,  five, ten and eleven of section 27-1007 of this title may
            54  be enforced by a county, city, town or village and the local legislative
            55  body thereof may adopt local laws, ordinances or regulations  consistent
            56  with this title providing for the enforcement of such provisions.
                S. 59--B                           77                          A. 159--B
         
             1    §  12.  The  environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new
             2  section 27-1016 to read as follows:
             3  § 27-1016. Public education.
             4    The commissioner shall establish a public education program to dissem-
             5  inate information regarding implementation of this title.  Such informa-
             6  tion  shall  include, but not be limited to, publication of the New York
             7  Bottle Bill of Rights as specified in subdivision two of section 27-1007
             8  of this title; publication  of  information  specifying  the  procedures
             9  necessary  to  establish  a  redemption  center  as  provided in section
            10  27-1013 of this title, including information regarding financial assist-
            11  ance available for the establishment of redemption centers  as  provided
            12  in section 27-1018 of this title; publication of information delineating
            13  the relevant rights and responsibilities of deposit initiators, distrib-
            14  utors, dealers, redemption centers and redeemers under the provisions of
            15  this  title;  publication  of information regarding the requirement that
            16  deposit initiators register with the department of taxation and finance;
            17  and publication of information on the general benefits of recycling.
            18    § 13. The environmental conservation law is amended by  adding  a  new
            19  section 27-1018 to read as follows:
            20  § 27-1018. Beverage container assistance program.
            21    Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, within the
            22  limits  of  appropriations  therefor,  the commissioner shall make state
            23  assistance payments to  municipalities,  businesses  and  not-for-profit
            24  organizations  located  in  the  state  for  the cost of reverse vending
            25  machines located or to be located in the state.  Such  state  assistance
            26  payments  shall  not  exceed  fifty  percent  of the costs of equipment,
            27  and/or the acquisition and/or rehabilitation of real property or  struc-
            28  tures  located  or to be located in the state related to the collecting,
            29  sorting, and packaging of  empty  beverage  containers  subject  to  the
            30  provisions of this title. Such payments may include costs related to the
            31  establishment   of   redemption  centers,  including  mobile  redemption
            32  centers. For the purposes of this section, municipalities  and  not-for-
            33  profit  organizations  shall  have  the  meaning  as  defined in section
            34  54-0101 of this chapter and businesses shall mean a dealer,  distributor
            35  or  redemption  center  as  defined in this title that employs less than
            36  fifty employees.
            37    § 14. Paragraph h of subdivision 1 of  section  261  of  the  economic
            38  development  law,  as  amended  by  chapter  471 of the laws of 1998, is
            39  amended to read as follows:
            40    h. "Eligible project" shall mean actions taken by or on  behalf  of  a
            41  New  York  business involving the acquisition, construction, alteration,
            42  repair or improvement of a building, fixtures, machinery  or  equipment,
            43  provided that such project results in:
            44    (i)  source  reduction  or  material  substitution,  provided that the
            45  substitution of one hazardous substance, product  or  nonproduct  output
            46  for another does not result in the creation of a new risk,
            47    (ii) in-process recycling,
            48    (iii) recycling or reuse of non-hazardous solid wastes,
            49    (iv) increased energy efficiency,
            50    (v)  conservation  of  the  use  of  water  or other natural resources
            51  improvements in process economics,
            52    (vi) elimination of the purchase of materials, the production of which
            53  for the use of said firm would result in more waste or resource consump-
            54  tion, or
            55    (vii) other practices or technologies that reduce the use of hazardous
            56  materials or otherwise improve air or water quality.
                S. 59--B                           78                          A. 159--B
         
             1    The term "eligible project" shall also include actions taken by or  on
             2  behalf  of a business to support costs of equipment, and/or the acquisi-
             3  tion and/or rehabilitation of real property or structures located or  to
             4  be  located in the state related to the collecting, sorting, and packag-
             5  ing  of empty beverage containers as such terms are defined in title ten
             6  of article twenty-seven of  the  environmental  conservation  law.  Such
             7  actions shall be eligible for state assistance payments under the bever-
             8  age  container  assistance  program  pursuant  to section 27-1018 of the
             9  environmental conservation law.
            10    The term "eligible project" shall not include end  of  pipe  pollution
            11  control  technologies  or practices where such controls or practices are
            12  designed primarily to achieve compliance with the environmental  conser-
            13  vation law or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, or energy recov-
            14  ery  or  incineration, or out-of-process recycling or reuse of hazardous
            15  waste or hazardous substances.
            16    § 15. Subdivisions 1 and 4 of section  54-0701  of  the  environmental
            17  conservation law, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 146 of the laws of
            18  2000,  subdivision  4  as  added by chapter 610 of the laws of 1993, are
            19  amended to read as follows:
            20    1. "Cost" means the capital cost  of  a  municipal  recycling  project
            21  including  engineering  and  architectural  services, surveys, plans and
            22  specifications; consultant and legal services; lands  acquired  pursuant
            23  to  the conditions set forth in section 54-0709 of this title, and other
            24  direct capital expenses incident to such a  project,  less  any  federal
            25  assistance  or other assistance received or to be received. "Cost" shall
            26  also include the capital, planning and promotional costs associated with
            27  waste reduction projects, the costs related to household hazardous waste
            28  collection and disposal programs, and the  costs  related  to  planning,
            29  educational  and  promotional  activities  associated with a recyclables
            30  recovery program.  "Cost" shall also include beverage container  assist-
            31  ance  program  grants to municipalities and not-for-profit organizations
            32  pursuant to section 27-1018 of this chapter. Provided,  however,  "cost"
            33  shall  exclude  any cost incurred prior to April first, nineteen hundred
            34  ninety-three, and shall  further  exclude  costs  related  to  planning,
            35  educational  and  promotional  activities  associated with a recyclables
            36  recovery program incurred prior to April first, two thousand.
            37    4. "Recycling project" means recyclables  recovery  equipment,  source
            38  separation  equipment, a recyclables recovery program or any combination
            39  thereof required by a recyclables recovery program and the reimbursement
            40  to municipalities and not-for-profit corporations,  as  such  terms  are
            41  defined in section 54-0101 of this article, for the cost of a redemption
            42  center as defined in section 27-1003 of this chapter.
            43    § 16. This act shall take effect immediately, provided however, that:
            44    1. sections two and three of this act shall take effect April 1, 2009;
            45    2. sections four, five, six, seven, nine, and eleven of this act shall
            46  take effect June 1, 2009; and
            47    3. section eight of this act shall take effect on April 1, 2009 except
            48  that  the  requirements  to  make  deposits, file reports and make with-
            49  drawals and payments under section 27-1012 of the environmental  conser-
            50  vation  law,  as  added  by  section  eight of this act, with respect to
            51  containers defined as beverage containers prior to April 1, 2009,  shall
            52  first apply to the period beginning on April 15, 2009 and ending May 31,
            53  2009,  and  with  respect  to  all other beverage containers shall first
            54  apply to the period beginning on June 1,  2009  and  ending  August  31,
            55  2009,  provided that such other beverage containers will not be required
            56  to have a refund value as required under section 27-1005 of the environ-
                S. 59--B                           79                          A. 159--B
         
             1  mental conservation law, as added by section four of this act until June
             2  1, 2009.   However, no refunds shall be  paid  to  a  deposit  initiator
             3  pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision 4 of section 27-1012 of the envi-
             4  ronmental  conservation law, as added by section eight of this act prior
             5  to March 1, 2010.

 

Updated April 20, 2009