HOUSE FILE 445

BY  WITTNEBEN, MURPHY, STECKMAN, WOLFE, WESSEL-KROESCHELL, HUNTER, HANSON, and THOMAS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the return of refund values to consumers for empty beverage containers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

   Section 1.  Section 455C.2, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  A refund value of not less than five cents shall be paid by the consumer on each beverage container sold in this state by a dealer for consumption off the premises. Upon return of the empty beverage container upon which a refund value has been paid to the dealer or person operating a redemption center and acceptance of the empty beverage container by the dealer or person operating a redemption center, the dealeror person operating a redemption center shall return the amount of the refund value to the consumer and the person operating a redemption center shall pay a refund value to the consumer of not less than four cents as determined by the person operating a redemption center.
   Sec. 2.  Section 455C.5, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  Each beverage container sold or offered for sale in this state by a dealer shall clearly indicate by embossing or by a stamp, label, or other method securely affixed to the container, the refund value of the container that must be paid by the consumer. The department shall specify, by rule, the minimum size of the refund value indication on the beverage containers.
   Sec. 3.  Section 455C.6, subsection 1, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   1.  To facilitate the return of empty beverage containers and to serve dealers of beverages, any person may establish a redemption center, subject to the approval of the department, at which consumers may return empty beverage containers and receive payment of the refund value of such beverage containers in an amount determined pursuant to section 455C.2, subsection 1, by the person operating the redemption center.
   Sec. 4.  Section 455C.7, Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   455C.7  Unapproved redemption centers.
   Any person may establish a redemption center which has not been approved by the department, at which a consumer may return empty beverage containers and receive payment of the refund value of the beverage containers in an amount determined pursuant to section 455C.2, subsection 1, by the person operating the redemption center. The establishment of an unapproved redemption center shall not relieve any dealer from the responsibility of redeeming any empty beverage containers of the kind and brand sold by the dealer.
EXPLANATION
   This bill relates to the return of refund values to consumers for empty beverage containers.
   The bill allows a person operating a redemption center to determine the amount of refund value of not less than 4 cents that may be paid to a consumer upon the return of an empty beverage container. The bill provides that beverage containers sold or offered for sale in this state must clearly indicate the refund value of the container that must be paid by the consumer.