Florida Senate - 2026                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 912
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì448936PÎ448936                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                  Comm: RCS            .                                
                  02/03/2026           .                                
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       The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources (McClain)
       recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete lines 98 - 622
    4  and insert:
    5  printers, fax machines, scanners, televisions, digital video
    6  disc players and recorders, video cassette recorders, digital
    7  converter boxes, cable receivers, satellite receivers, portable
    8  digital music players, or video game consoles.
    9         (2)“Battery stewardship organization” or “BSO” means:
   10         (a) A third-party entity designated by one or more
   11  producers to implement an approved battery stewardship plan; or
   12         (b) A group of producers which directly implement an
   13  approved battery stewardship plan.
   14         (3)“Covered battery” means a portable battery or a medium
   15  format battery. The term does not include any of the following:
   16         (a)A battery contained in a medical device as defined in
   17  21 U.S.C. s. 321(h) which is not designed or marketed for sale
   18  or resale at retail locations for personal use.
   19         (b)A battery that uses free-flowing liquid electrolyte or
   20  a product that contains such a battery.
   21         (c)A battery designed to power a motor vehicle, part of a
   22  motor vehicle, or a component part of a motor vehicle assembled
   23  by or for a vehicle manufacturer or franchised dealer, including
   24  replacement parts for use in a motor vehicle.
   25         (d)A battery designed to power an off-highway vehicle as
   26  defined in s. 261.03(5), part of an off-highway vehicle, or a
   27  component of an off-highway vehicle assembled by or for a
   28  vehicle manufacturer or franchised dealer, including replacement
   29  parts for use in an off-highway vehicle.
   30         (e)A battery used in a product which is not intended or
   31  designed to be easily removable from the product.
   32         (f)A battery or battery-containing product recalled for
   33  safety reasons.
   34         (g)A battery or battery-containing product offered for
   35  resale by a business that, as part of its operations, offers
   36  products for resale to other businesses or to consumers.
   37         (h) Batteries or battery materials that are imported into
   38  this state after collection and are sold to or managed by
   39  collectors, logistics companies, or recyclers for the purpose of
   40  end-of-life management.
   41         (i) Lead-acid batteries or battery components that weigh 11
   42  pounds or more.
   43         (4)Medium format battery” means any of the following:
   44         (a)For nonrechargeable batteries, a battery that weighs
   45  more than 4.4 pounds, but not more than 25 pounds; or
   46         (b)For rechargeable batteries, a battery that weighs more
   47  than 11 pounds or that has a rating of more than 300 watt-hours,
   48  or both, but weighs not more than 25 pounds or has a rating of
   49  less than 2,000 watt-hours.
   50         (5)Portable battery” means any of the following:
   51         (a)For nonrechargeable batteries, a battery that weighs
   52  4.4 pounds or less; or
   53         (b)For rechargeable batteries, a battery that weighs 11
   54  pounds or less and has a rating of not more than 300 watt-hours.
   55         (6)(a)“Producer” means the following person or persons
   56  responsible for compliance with requirements under this chapter
   57  for a covered battery or battery-containing product sold,
   58  offered for sale, or distributed in or into this state:
   59         1.For covered batteries:
   60         a.If the battery is sold under the brand of the battery
   61  manufacturer, the producer is the person who manufactures the
   62  battery;
   63         b.If the battery is sold under a retail brand or under a
   64  brand owned by a person other than the manufacturer, the
   65  producer is the brand owner;
   66         c.If there is no person to whom sub-subparagraph a. or
   67  sub-subparagraph b. applies, the producer is the person who is
   68  the licensee of a brand or trademark under which the battery is
   69  used in a commercial enterprise, sold, offered for sale, or
   70  distributed in or into this state, regardless of whether the
   71  trademark is registered in this state;
   72         d.If there is no person to whom sub-subparagraph a., sub
   73  subparagraph b., or sub-subparagraph c. applies, the producer is
   74  the person who is the importer of record for importing the
   75  battery into the United States for use in a commercial
   76  enterprise that sells, offers for sale, or distributes the
   77  battery in this state; or
   78         e.If there is no person to whom sub-subparagraph a., sub
   79  subparagraph b., sub-subparagraph c., or sub-subparagraph d.
   80  applies or no person with a commercial presence in this state,
   81  the producer is the person who first sells, offers for sale, or
   82  distributes the battery in or into this state.
   83         2.For covered battery-containing products:
   84         a.If the battery-containing product is sold under the
   85  brand of the product manufacturer, the producer is the person
   86  who manufactures the product;
   87         b.If the battery-containing product is sold under a retail
   88  brand or under a brand owned by a person other than the
   89  manufacturer, the producer is the brand owner;
   90         c.If there is no person to whom sub-subparagraph a. or
   91  sub-subparagraph b. applies, the producer is the person who is
   92  the licensee of a brand or trademark under which the product is
   93  used in a commercial enterprise, sold, offered for sale, or
   94  distributed in or into this state, regardless of whether the
   95  trademark is registered in this state;
   96         d.If there is no person described in sub-subparagraph a.,
   97  sub-subparagraph b., or sub-subparagraph c. within the United
   98  States, the producer is the person who is the importer of record
   99  for the product into the United States for use in a commercial
  100  enterprise that sells, offers for sale, or distributes the
  101  product in this state; or
  102         e.If there is no person described in sub-subparagraph a.,
  103  sub-subparagraph b., sub-subparagraph c., or sub-subparagraph d.
  104  with a commercial presence in this state, the producer is the
  105  person who first sells, offers for sale, or distributes the
  106  product in or into this state.
  107         (b)A producer does not include any person who only
  108  manufactures, sells, offers for sale, distributes, or imports
  109  into this state a battery-containing product if the only
  110  batteries used by the battery-containing product are supplied by
  111  a producer that has joined a registered BSO as the producer for
  112  that covered battery under this chapter. Such a producer of
  113  covered batteries that are included in a battery-containing
  114  product shall provide written certification of that membership
  115  in a registered BSO to both the producer of the covered battery
  116  containing product and the BSO of which the battery producer is
  117  a member.
  118         (7)“Rechargeable battery” means a battery that contains
  119  one or more voltaic or galvanic cells electrically connected to
  120  produce electric energy and that is designed to be recharged.
  121         (8)“Recovery” means collecting, accumulating, and
  122  transporting quantities of covered batteries or battery
  123  containing products for the purpose of end-of-life management.
  124         (9)(a)“Recycling” means the reprocessing, by means of a
  125  manufacturing process, of a used material into a product or a
  126  secondary raw material.
  127         (b)The term does not include:
  128         1.Energy recovery or energy generation by means of
  129  combustion of the used material;
  130         2.Use of the used material as a fuel;
  131         3.Use of the used material as alternative daily cover,
  132  meaning material placed on the surface of a landfill at the end
  133  of each operating day to prevent such hazards as fires and to
  134  manage odors; or
  135         4.Landfill disposal of discarded covered materials.
  136         (10)“Retailer” means a person or an entity that sells or
  137  offers for sale a covered battery in this state or offers or
  138  otherwise makes available covered batteries or battery
  139  containing products to a customer, including other businesses,
  140  in this state.
  141         Section 3. Section 403.71873, Florida Statutes, is created
  142  to read:
  143         403.71873Requirements for producers or retailers of
  144  covered batteries or battery-containing products; prohibition.—
  145         (1)REQUIREMENTS.—
  146         (a)Beginning January 1, 2028, a producer must do all of
  147  the following before selling, offering for sale, or distributing
  148  for sale in this state any covered battery or battery-containing
  149  product:
  150         1.Be a member of a BSO operating pursuant to a battery
  151  stewardship plan approved by the department under s. 403.71874.
  152  This subparagraph does not apply to a retailer if the website
  153  maintained by the department pursuant to s. 403.71879 lists, as
  154  of the date a battery or product is made available for retail
  155  sale, the producer or brand of the battery or product in the
  156  approved battery stewardship plan. Retailers of covered
  157  batteries or battery-containing products are not required to
  158  make retail locations available to serve as collection sites for
  159  a stewardship program operated by a BSO. Retailers that serve as
  160  a collection site may participate in an approved stewardship
  161  plan and comply with the requirements for collection sites,
  162  consistent with s. 403.71876.
  163         2.Provide verification to the department that the covered
  164  battery or the battery in the battery-containing product has
  165  labeling or is imprinted with text that identifies the producer
  166  of the battery with a clear mark or insignia.
  167         (b)Beginning January 1, 2029, a producer of a covered
  168  battery or a battery in a battery-containing product must list
  169  the following information on such batteries:
  170         1.The chemistry of the battery.
  171         2.An indicator that the battery may not be disposed of as
  172  household waste and is not eligible for curbside recycling.
  173  
  174  Subparagraph (a)2. and paragraph (b) do not apply to a battery
  175  that can fit entirely, in any orientation, into the small parts
  176  cylinder described in 16 C.F.R. s. 1501.4. In this case, the
  177  mark required pursuant to subparagraph (a)2. must be placed on
  178  the packaging of the battery or battery-containing product. The
  179  department may amend by rule the requirements of this subsection
  180  to maintain consistency with the labeling requirements or
  181  voluntary standards for batteries established in federal law.
  182         (2)PROHIBITION.—A producer, retailer, or BSO may not
  183  charge a point-of-sale fee to consumers to cover the costs of
  184  implementing a battery stewardship plan approved by the
  185  department under s. 403.71874.
  186         Section 4. Section 403.71874, Florida Statutes, is created
  187  to read:
  188         403.71874Battery stewardship plan components.—
  189         (1)Beginning January 1, 2027, any BSO operating in this
  190  state shall submit a battery stewardship plan, referred to
  191  hereafter as “plan,” to the department for review and approval.
  192         (2)A plan must include all of the following:
  193         (a)The name and contact information of each producer
  194  included in the plan.
  195         (b)The brand of the covered battery or batteries that the
  196  BSO’s producer sells, offers for sale, or distributes for sale
  197  in this state. All such brands must be listed in the plan.
  198         (c)Performance goals and processes for achieving such
  199  goals. Performance goals must include, but need not be limited
  200  to, an education and outreach strategy to enhance consumer
  201  awareness of the plan and of the convenience and accessibility
  202  of end-of-life management options for covered batteries or
  203  batteries in battery-containing products collected pursuant to
  204  the plan.
  205         (d)Processes for providing notice to retailers of the
  206  prohibition in s. 403.71873(2).
  207         (e)Processes for providing collection sites with signage,
  208  written materials, and other promotional materials to inform
  209  consumers of the available end-of-life management options for
  210  covered batteries collected pursuant to the plan.
  211         (f)Collection site safety training procedures that must
  212  include, but need not be limited to, all of the following:
  213         1.Operating protocols to reduce risks of spills or fires
  214  and response protocols for such events.
  215         2.Protocols for the safe management of damaged or
  216  defective batteries.
  217         (g)A detailed budget that equitably distributes plan
  218  implementation costs among the members of the BSO.
  219         (h)Procedures and guidelines for covered battery
  220  collection which ensure covered battery collection will occur at
  221  no cost to consumers on a continuous, convenient, visible, and
  222  accessible basis, regardless of the brand or producer of the
  223  covered battery.
  224         (i)Procedures and guidelines to govern the execution of s.
  225  403.71876.
  226         (j)Criteria for the designation of an entity as a covered
  227  battery collection site and the addresses of such designated
  228  covered battery collection sites.
  229         (k)The names of proposed service providers, including
  230  sorters, transporters, and processors, to be used for the final
  231  disposition of batteries.
  232         (l)Procedures and guidelines to govern how the BSO shall
  233  coordinate with material recovery facilities and secondary
  234  processors to properly process and transport for end-of-life
  235  management any covered batteries improperly sent to such
  236  facilities through the waste or recycling streams.
  237         (m)Procedures for recordkeeping, tracking, and documenting
  238  the management and disposition of collected covered batteries,
  239  including any delay anticipated by the BSO in managing medium
  240  format batteries.
  241         (3)An approved plan is valid for 5 years. A BSO whose plan
  242  is approved pursuant to this section shall do all of the
  243  following:
  244         (a)Submit a new plan to the department for approval 1 year
  245  before the expiration of the existing approved plan. If the
  246  performance goals included in the previously approved plan have
  247  not been met, the new plan must include corrective measures that
  248  the BSO must implement to meet such performance goals, which may
  249  include, but need not be limited to, improvements to the
  250  collection site network or increased expenditures dedicated to
  251  education and outreach.
  252         (b)Submit plan amendments to the department for approval.
  253         (c)Notify the department within 90 days after a producer,
  254  processor, or transporter begins or ceases participation in the
  255  BSO, or within 90 days after the addition or removal of a
  256  processor or transporter under the plan.
  257         (4)(a)The department shall approve, conditionally approve,
  258  or deny a plan or plan amendment within 120 days after receiving
  259  such proposed plan or proposed plan amendment.
  260         (b)If the department denies a proposed plan or amendment:
  261         1.The department must notify the BSO of the denial in
  262  writing and provide a rationale describing why the proposed plan
  263  or amendment does not comply with this section;
  264         2.The BSO must submit a revised plan or plan amendment, or
  265  notice of plan or plan amendment withdrawal, within 60 days
  266  after the denial; and
  267         3.The department must approve or deny the revised plan or
  268  plan amendment within 90 days after resubmittal. The denial of a
  269  revised plan or plan amendment may be appealed to the
  270  department, and the appeal must be in accordance with chapter
  271  120.
  272         Section 5. Section 403.71875, Florida Statutes, is created
  273  to read:
  274         403.71875Battery stewardship organization fiscal duties.—A
  275  BSO implementing a battery stewardship plan approved under s.
  276  403.71874 has all of the following fiscal duties:
  277         (1)Responsibility for all costs associated with
  278  implementing the plan.
  279         (2)Reimbursement of local governments for demonstrable
  280  costs incurred by a local government facility or solid waste
  281  facility designated as a collection site under the plan.
  282  Reimbursement shall only be for local government and solid waste
  283  or recyclables handling facilities that individually collect
  284  more than 200 pounds annually.
  285         (3)Collection of charges from participating producers
  286  sufficient to cover the costs of implementing the plan,
  287  including battery collection, transportation, processing,
  288  education and outreach, and program evaluation.
  289         Section 6. Section 403.71876, Florida Statutes, is created
  290  to read:
  291         403.71876Collection and management requirements.—
  292         (1)A BSO implementing an approved battery stewardship plan
  293  shall do all of the following:
  294         (a)Provide for the collection of all covered batteries,
  295  statewide, from any person, regardless of the chemistry or brand
  296  of the battery, on a free, continuous, convenient, and
  297  accessible basis.
  298         (b)Equip collection sites designated pursuant to s.
  299  403.71874(2)(j), at no cost to the sites, with suitable
  300  collection containers for covered batteries that are segregated
  301  from other solid waste, or provide alternative arrangements for
  302  the collection of such batteries at the site.
  303         (c)Ensure that medium format batteries are collected only
  304  at household hazardous waste collection sites or other staffed
  305  collection sites that meet applicable federal, state, and local
  306  requirements for managing medium format batteries.
  307         (d)Provide for the collection of damaged and defective
  308  batteries, by persons trained to handle and ship such batteries,
  309  at collection sites and at each permanent household hazardous
  310  waste facility and each household hazardous waste collection
  311  event provided by the department. As used in this paragraph, the
  312  term “damaged and defective batteries” means batteries that have
  313  been damaged or that have been identified by the manufacturer as
  314  being defective for safety reasons and that have the potential
  315  to produce a dangerous evolution of heat, fire, or short
  316  circuit, as referred to in 49 C.F.R. s. 173.185(f), or as
  317  provided by the state by rule to maintain consistency with
  318  federal standards.
  319         (e)Coordinate the delivery of services with existing
  320  public and private waste collection services and facilities;
  321  transporters; consolidators; processors; electronic waste
  322  recyclers; other BSOs; retailers if cost-effective, mutually
  323  agreeable, and otherwise practical; or other related entities to
  324  provide efficient and cost-effective delivery of services.
  325         (f)For portable batteries, provide all of the following
  326  within 3 years after approval of the battery stewardship plan:
  327         1.At least one permanent collection site within a 15-mile
  328  radius for at least 95 percent of state residents; and
  329         2.At least one permanent collection site, collection
  330  service, or collection event for every 30,000 residents of a
  331  county.
  332         (g)For medium format batteries, provide all of the
  333  following within 3 years after approval of the battery
  334  stewardship plan:
  335         1.At least 10 permanent collection sites in this state.
  336  Such sites must be reasonably dispersed throughout this state;
  337         2.A collection event at least once every 3 years in each
  338  county that does not have a permanent collection site, which
  339  must provide for the collection of all medium format batteries,
  340  including damaged and defective medium format batteries; and
  341         3.Any entity that may be used as a collection site or that
  342  will authorize a collection event on its property that satisfies
  343  the criteria in this paragraph.
  344         (2)A BSO implementing an approved battery stewardship plan
  345  may issue a warning for the suspension or termination of a
  346  collection site or service that does not comply with the
  347  approved plan or that poses an immediate threat to public health
  348  and safety.
  349         (3)A BSO is not required to provide for the collection of
  350  batteries, battery-containing products, or covered batteries
  351  that remain contained in a battery-containing product at the
  352  time of delivery to a collection site or collection event if
  353  such batteries or products are under a recall for safety
  354  reasons. A BSO may seek reimbursement from the producer of a
  355  battery or battery-containing product under recall for safety
  356  reasons for the costs incurred in collecting, transporting, or
  357  processing such batteries and products.
  358         Section 7. Section 403.71877, Florida Statutes, is created
  359  to read:
  360         403.71877Battery stewardship plan implementation.—A BSO
  361  implementing an approved battery stewardship plan shall do all
  362  of the following to promote the implementation of the plan:
  363         (1)Develop and maintain a website.
  364         (2)Develop and place advertisements on social media or
  365  other relevant media platforms.
  366         (3)Develop promotional materials about the plan and the
  367  restrictions on disposing of covered batteries.
  368         (4)Develop and distribute to collection sites collection
  369  site safety training procedures to help ensure proper management
  370  of covered batteries at collection sites.
  371         (5)Provide to each collection site used under the plan
  372  consumer-focused educational materials that are accessible by
  373  customers of retailers that sell covered batteries or battery
  374  containing products.
  375         (6)Provide safety information related to covered battery
  376  collection activities to the operator of each collection site
  377  used under the plan, including appropriate protocols to reduce
  378  risks of spills or fires, respond to a spill or fire, and manage
  379  a collected damaged or defective battery.
  380         (7)Provide educational materials to the operator of each
  381  collection site used under the plan for the management of
  382  recalled batteries.
  383         (8)Upon request by a retailer or other potential
  384  collection site, provide educational materials describing
  385  collection opportunities for covered batteries.
  386         (9)Coordinate with other BSOs implementing a battery
  387  stewardship plan in providing education and outreach under s.
  388  403.71874(2)(c).
  389         (10)Conduct a survey, during the first year of
  390  implementing a battery stewardship plan and once every 5 years
  391  thereafter, of public awareness of the outreach efforts
  392  undertaken pursuant to this section. The BSO shall make the
  393  results of the surveys available to the department.
  394         Section 8. Section 403.71878, Florida Statutes, is created
  395  to read:
  396         403.71878Reporting requirements.—
  397         (1)Starting June 1, 2029, and annually thereafter, a BSO
  398  implementing an approved battery stewardship plan shall submit a
  399  report to the department which includes all of the following:
  400         (a)A summary financial statement documenting the financing
  401  of the plan and an analysis of plan costs and expenditures,
  402  including an analysis of the plan’s expenses, such as
  403  collection, transportation, management, education, and
  404  administrative overhead. The summary financial statement is
  405  sufficiently detailed if it provides transparency regarding
  406  funds collected from producers spent on plan implementation, in
  407  addition to other necessary financial accounting information.
  408         (b)The weight, by chemistry, of collected covered
  409  batteries.
  410         (c)A list of all facilities used in the processing or
  411  disposition of covered batteries under the plan.
  412         (d)For each facility used for the final disposition of
  413  covered batteries under the plan, an overview of how the
  414  facility processed or otherwise managed batteries and battery
  415  components.
  416         (e)The weight and chemistry of covered batteries sent to
  417  each facility used for the final disposition of batteries. This
  418  information may be approximated based on extrapolations of
  419  national or regional data for programs in operation in multiple
  420  states.
  421         (f)The estimated aggregate sales, by weight and chemistry,
  422  of covered batteries, including covered batteries contained in
  423  or packaged with battery-containing products, sold in this state
  424  by the BSO’s participating producers for each of the previous 3
  425  calendar years.
  426         (g)A summary describing the management and recycling of
  427  collected batteries.
  428         (h)A description of education and outreach efforts
  429  supporting plan implementation, including:
  430         1.A summary of education and outreach provided to
  431  consumers, collection sites, manufacturers, distributors, and
  432  retailers to promote the collection and recycling of covered
  433  batteries and an analysis of how such education and outreach met
  434  the requirements under s. 403.71874(2)(c)2.;
  435         2.Samples of education and outreach materials;
  436         3.A summary of coordinated education and outreach efforts
  437  with any other BSOs implementing a battery stewardship plan;
  438         4.A summary of any changes made during the previous
  439  calendar year to education and outreach activities; and
  440         5.An evaluation of the effectiveness of education and
  441  outreach activities.
  442         (i)A list of all collection sites used to implement the
  443  plan, an address for each listed site, a link to the website of
  444  each listed site, if available, and an up-to-date map indicating
  445  the location of each site.
  446         (j)A description of methods used to collect, transport,
  447  and recycle covered batteries under the plan.
  448         (l)An analysis of the performance goals under the plan and
  449  the rationale describing why performance goals were not met, if
  450  applicable.
  451         (2)After 4 years of implementation of an approved battery
  452  stewardship plan, a BSO or a producer member of such
  453  organization shall hire an independent third party to conduct a
  454  one-time audit of the battery stewardship plan and plan
  455  operation. The auditor shall examine the effectiveness of the
  456  battery stewardship plan in collecting and managing covered
  457  batteries. The auditor shall also examine the cost-effectiveness
  458  of the plan and compare it to the cost-effectiveness of
  459  collections plans and programs for covered batteries in other
  460  jurisdictions. The BSO shall submit a copy of such audit to the
  461  department.
  462         Section 9. Section 403.71879, Florida Statutes, is created
  463  to read:
  464         403.71879Responsibilities of the department.—The
  465  department shall include on its website:
  466         (1)A copy of all battery stewardship plans approved under
  467  s. 403.71874 and any amendments to such plans;
  468         (2)The names of producer members covered under an approved
  469  battery stewardship plan;
  470         (3)A list of brands of covered batteries covered under
  471  approved battery stewardship plans; and
  472         (4)A copy of each annual report submitted to the
  473  department pursuant to s. 403.71878.
  474         Section 10. Section 403.71881, Florida Statutes, is created
  475  to read:
  476         403.71881Antitrust.—A producer, retailer, or BSO is not
  477  liable for any claim of a violation of antitrust laws or laws
  478  relating to fraudulent, deceptive, or unfair methods of
  479  competition or trade practices arising from conduct that
  480  complies with an approved battery stewardship plan.
  481         Section 11. Section 403.71882, Florida Statutes, is created
  482  to read:
  483         403.71882Collection of batteries independent of a battery
  484  stewardship plan.—
  485         (1)A person or recycler may offer or perform fee-based
  486  household battery collection services or mail-back services for
  487  covered batteries in this state independently of a BSO if:
  488         (a)The services are performed and facilities are operated
  489  in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws
  490  and requirements;
  491         (b)A person or recycler accepts all covered batteries; and
  492         (c)Except as provided in subsection (2), all batteries
  493  collected by the person or recycler from customers in this state
  494  are provided to a BSO implementing an approved battery
  495  stewardship plan. After providing collected batteries to a BSO,
  496  any transport and processing of such batteries by the BSO must
  497  be done at the BSO’s expense. A BSO may refuse to accept
  498  batteries from any such person or recycler if the department is
  499  notified of the reason for such refusal.
  500         (2)A person or recycler described in subsection (1) may
  501  recycle covered batteries collected from customers in this state
  502  if such person or recycler provides annual collection data and
  503  recycling data to the department. Such data must include all of
  504  the following:
  505         (a)The weight, by chemistry, of covered batteries
  506  collected.
  507         (b)A description of how each facility recycled or
  508  otherwise managed batteries and battery components for the final
  509  disposition of covered batteries.
  510         (3)Such person or recycler may not receive compensation
  511  from a BSO for any batteries collected, transported, or recycled
  512  under this section, unless otherwise agreed.
  513         Section 12. Section 403.71883, Florida Statutes, is created
  514  to read:
  515         403.71883General battery disposal and collection
  516  requirements.—
  517         (1)Beginning January 1, 2028, all of the following shall
  518  apply:
  519         (a)A person may dispose of a covered battery only by
  520  delivery to a collection site or collection event operated under
  521  an approved battery stewardship plan or operated by an
  522  independent collector, unless the battery is regulated as
  523  hazardous waste.
  524         (b)A person may not knowingly cause or allow the mixing of
  525  a covered battery with recyclable materials that are intended
  526  for processing and sorting at a material recovery facility
  527  without documenting the contents in the shipment manifest, the
  528  approval of the receiving party, and the approval of the
  529  transporting party.
  530         (c)A person may not knowingly cause or allow the mixing of
  531  a covered battery with municipal waste that is intended for
  532  disposal at a landfill.
  533         (d)A person may not knowingly cause or allow the disposal
  534  of a covered battery in a landfill.
  535         (e)A person may not knowingly cause or allow the mixing of
  536  a covered battery with waste that is intended for burning or
  537  incineration without documenting contents in the shipment
  538  manifest, the approval of the receiving party, and the approval
  539  of the transporting party.
  540         (2)An owner or operator of a solid waste facility may not
  541  be found in violation of this act if the facility has posted in
  542  a conspicuous location a sign stating that covered batteries
  543  must be managed through collection sites established by a BSO
  544  and are not accepted for disposal.
  545         (3)A solid waste collector is not in violation of this act
  546  for a covered battery placed in a disposal container by a
  547  person.
  548  
  549  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  550  And the title is amended as follows:
  551         Delete lines 5 - 67
  552  and insert:
  553         s. 403.71873, F.S.; requiring a producer to fulfill
  554         certain requirements, beginning on a specified date,
  555         before selling, offering for sale, or distributing for
  556         sale in this state any covered battery or battery
  557         containing product; providing applicability;
  558         authorizing the department to amend by rule certain
  559         provisions for a certain purpose; requiring certain
  560         producers to list certain information on the battery
  561         beginning on a specified date; prohibiting a producer,
  562         retailer, or battery stewardship organization (BSO)
  563         from charging a certain fee to consumers; creating s.
  564         403.71874, F.S.; requiring a BSO operating in this
  565         state to submit a battery stewardship plan to the
  566         Department of Environmental Protection for review and
  567         approval, beginning on a specified date; providing
  568         requirements for the plan; providing a term of
  569         validity for the plan; providing requirements for the
  570         plan; requiring a BSO with an approved plan to take
  571         certain actions; requiring the department to make a
  572         certain determination regarding a battery stewardship
  573         plan or plan amendment within a specified timeframe;
  574         providing certain requirements for the department and
  575         a BSO in the event a battery stewardship plan or
  576         amendment is denied; creating s. 403.71875, F.S.;
  577         providing fiscal duties for a BSO implementing an
  578         approved battery stewardship plan; creating s.
  579         403.71876, F.S.; requiring a BSO to take certain
  580         actions to implement an approved battery stewardship
  581         plan; authorizing a BSO implementing an approved
  582         battery stewardship plan to issue a warning for the
  583         suspension or termination of certain collection sites
  584         or services; providing that a BSO is not required to
  585         provide for the collection of batteries, battery
  586         containing products, or covered batteries if such
  587         batteries or products are recalled for safety reasons;
  588         authorizing a BSO to seek reimbursement from the
  589         producer of such batteries or battery-containing
  590         products for certain costs; creating s. 403.71877,
  591         F.S.; requiring a BSO to take certain actions to
  592         promote the implementation of a plan; creating s.
  593         403.71878, F.S.; requiring a BSO to submit a report to
  594         the department annually beginning on a specified date;
  595         providing requirements for such report; requiring a
  596         BSO to hire an independent third party to audit the
  597         battery stewardship plan and plan operation within a
  598         specified amount of time after the implementation of
  599         an approved battery stewardship plan; providing
  600         requirements for such audit; requiring a BSO to submit
  601         a copy of the audit to the department; creating s.
  602         403.71879, F.S.; requiring the department to include
  603         certain information on its website relating to battery
  604         stewardship plans; creating s. 403.71881, F.S.;
  605         providing that a producer, retailer, or BSO is not
  606         liable for any claim of a violation of antitrust laws
  607         or laws relating to fraudulent, deceptive, or unfair
  608         methods of competition or trade practices; creating s.
  609         403.71882, F.S.; authorizing a person or recycler to
  610         offer or perform fee-based household battery
  611         collection services or mail-back battery collection
  612         services independently of a BSO if certain conditions
  613         are met; authorizing such person or recycler to
  614         recycle covered batteries if such person or recycler
  615         provides annual collection and recycling data to the
  616         department; providing requirements for such data;
  617         prohibiting such person or recycler from receiving
  618         compensation from a BSO for certain batteries, unless
  619         otherwise agreed; creating s. 403.71883, F.S.;
  620         providing requirements for the disposal and management
  621         of covered batteries, beginning on a specified date;
  622         providing an
  623