In a press release, dated 10 October 2014, California Secretary of State, Debra Bowen announced that the proponent of a proposed referendum to overturn the recently signed law banning single-use plastic bags may begin gathering signatures to overturn it.

A total of 504,760 valid signatures from registered voters must be submitted by December 29, 2014 to county election officials. If sufficient valid signatures are obtained, the measure would qualify for the November 2016 ballot. At that time a majority of voters will have the opportunity to reject or keep the ban on plastic bags.

The referendum would repeal the entirety of SB-270 except for subdivision (a) of Section 42288 of the Public Resources Code. This subdivision would retain an appropriation of $2 million from the Recycling Market Development Revolving Loan Account for the purposes of providing loans for the creation and retention of jobs and economic activity in this state for the manufacture and recycling of plastic reusable grocery bags that use post-consumer recycled material. Continue reading Referendum to Overturn Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags →