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4. There are no conclusive studies about styrene leaching from the containers into food and harming humans, The report also included information about legislation introduced in the current State legislative session regarding single use plastic bags and foam food containers, including bans, fees charged per bag on customers, and fees on manufacturers. The Committee then after review of all available information unanimously adopted a motion to recommend that: (a) Approve transmitting a letter of City support for State legislation to ban single use plastic bags (AB 1998 Brownley) and single use foam food take -out containers (AB 2138 Chesbro). (b) Direct staff if such State legislation is not adopted, consider for inclusion in the Climate Action Plan's solid waste assessment the environmental effects of such bans. (c) Include such bans among the options for Council consideration during its next priority- setting meeting. DISCUSSION State Legislation: There are currently five bills which have been introduced addressing single use plastic bags or foam food containers. Much media coverage has focused on AB 1998 (Brownley) which would impose a State -wide ban, beginning July 1, 2013, on single use plastic bags provided at the point of sale at: (i) grocery stores; (ii) retailers over 10,000 s.f. with pharmacy; and (iii) food marts or convenience stores with a liquor license. Recycled paper bags with minimum 40% post- consumer content could be provided at a cost of at least $0.05; and reusable bags are required to be provided for sale; but persons qualified for the Women Infant Children (WIC) program are allowed to be provided such paper or reusable bags for no cost. Plastic bags given for prescriptions at pharmacies and plastic bags without handles (e.g. produce bags) are not subject to the ban. The bill also has following provisions: reusable bag standards; requiring manufacturer re)certification every two years of the reusable bag standards; special fund for use of (re)certification fees for enforcement; and pre emption of local regulations about reusable bags, recycled paper bags, and other types of bags [excepts allows the San Francisco compostable bag program with such bags sold for at least $0.05 each]. AB 1998 was approved in early June by the State Assembly, then was approved by the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality on June 28th, and has now been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Sacramento Bee reports that AB 1998 is Authors: Brownley (Principal coauthor: Senator Leno) (Coauthors: Ammiano, Chesbro, De Leon, Evans, Feuer, Hill, Bonnie Lowenthal, Nava, Ruskin, Skinner, Torlakson, and Yamada) (Coauthors: Senators DeSaulnier, Hancock, Liu, Lowenthal, and Pavley). Page 3 of 5