Hazardous waste: Emergency Distress Flare Safe Disposal Act.

Senator Blakespear's Emergency Distress Flare Safe Disposal Act establishes California's first comprehensive manufacturer responsibility program for managing hazardous marine distress flares, requiring manufacturers to develop and implement collection and disposal systems for these pyrotechnic devices.

The legislation mandates that manufacturers, either individually or through a designated nonprofit organization, submit detailed plans to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) by January 2028 outlining their approach to collecting and safely disposing of marine flares. These plans must include collection site networks, transportation protocols, public education programs, and specific performance metrics. The bill prohibits the sale or distribution of flares containing perchlorate in California.

Manufacturers must provide annual reports documenting collection volumes, disposal methods, and program effectiveness. The legislation creates the Marine Flare Recovery Fund to cover DTSC's oversight costs through manufacturer fees. While DTSC gains enforcement authority over the program, penalties for non-compliance cannot be imposed before July 2029. Local jurisdictions retain the ability to charge disposal fees for flares not covered under manufacturer plans.

The program's implementation begins with DTSC adopting regulations by January 2027, followed by manufacturer plan submissions and subsequent collection system deployment. The legislation requires manufacturers to provide DTSC access to facilities and records for compliance verification, with reports submitted under penalty of perjury.