04/01/2008 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

         SB 118-PLASTIC BAG FEE; ESTABLISH LITTER FUND                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
2:14:03 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR ELLIS announced SB 118 to be up for consideration.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELTON, sponsor  of SB 118, explained that  SB 118 employs                                                               
the notion that if you can  tax behavior, you can change it. This                                                               
bill  was  not  introduced  to  raise  revenues,  but  to  change                                                               
behavior by establishing  a 15 cent tax on plastic  bags. He also                                                               
supported the CS that  phases the tax in at a  nickel a year over                                                               
three years.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
2:14:27 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR BUNDE joined the committee.                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  ELTON said  this was  adopted  from an  idea in  Ireland                                                               
where a 20 cent tax cut use of plastic bags by about 90 percent.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  ELLIS   asked  if  his   intent  was  to  just   keep  the                                                               
conversation going  since this bill would  have a long way  to go                                                               
to get into law.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  ELTON  replied  yes;  part   of  it  is  initiating  the                                                               
discussion. He has  received 617 signatures, a lot  of emails, 37                                                               
letters and  phone calls in  support of  SB 118. He  has received                                                               
four letters, two  from the American Chemistry  Council, and four                                                               
POMs opposing it.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS  moved to adopt  CSSB 118(L&C), version  M. There                                                               
were no objections and it was so ordered.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR STEVENS asked if using paper  bags is so much better than                                                               
plastic.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELTON  answered yes,  but every  carrying device  has its                                                               
down side. Plastic doesn't biodegrade  over time and it creates a                                                               
huge  problem  especially  in the  marine  environment  where  it                                                               
causes considerable harm to marine mammals and fish.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BUNDE  asked  if biodegradable  plastic  bags  would  be                                                               
covered.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR ELTON  answered no. Section 1  on page 2 of  the CS notes                                                               
exceptions  and   includes  biodegradable   types  of   bags.  He                                                               
mentioned that  some rural villages  have already  banned plastic                                                               
bags.                                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR BUNDE said his concern is  that some people can afford to                                                               
be environmentally conscious and he  asked how this affects lower                                                               
income communities.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
2:21:04 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR ELTON  answered that many  communities pick up  dog waste                                                               
now;  it just  takes  time.  Fred Meyer  is  giving  a refund  to                                                               
customers for bringing their own bags.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
2:22:04 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  STEVENS moved  to report  CSSB 118(L&C)  version M  from                                                               
committee  with individual  recommendations  and attached  fiscal                                                               
note(s). There were no objections and it was so ordered.