Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1665-A, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 656, §3, is amended to read:

9. Reporting. Before January 1, 2003 and annually thereafter, motor vehicle manufacturers doing business in the State shall report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over natural resources matters on any fee or other charge collected on the sale of new motor vehicles for the purpose of paying the cost of carrying out the manufacturer responsibilities under subsection 5. The report must specify the amount of the fee or charge collected and how the amount of the fee or charge was determined. Before July 1, 2004 and annually thereafter, motor vehicle manufacturers shall report in writing to the department on the results of the source separation required under this section. The report must include, at a minimum, the number of mercury switches removed and recycled from motor vehicles during the previous calendar year; the estimated total amount of mercury contained in the components; and any recommendations to improve the future collection and recycling of motor vehicle components. Before January 1, 2005 2004 and annually thereafter, the department shall report to the Mercury Products Advisory Committee on the effectiveness of the source separation required under this section, whether the partial reimbursement payment under subsection 5, paragraph B should be adjusted to increase the number of switches brought to consolidation facilities, whether other motor vehicle components should be added to the source separation efforts and whether the program should be terminated and, if so, when.

SUMMARY

Current law requires the Department of Environmental Protection to report on the effectiveness of source separation of mercury-added products before January 1, 2005. This bill moves the reporting date up to January 1, 2004.