S E N A T E A M E N D M E N T

   AMENDMENT NO. _____

310896031496000/SM

CREATEDATE \@ "MMMM d, yyyy" \* MERGEFORMAT April 21, 2026

ADOPTED		TABLED	CARRIED OVER	FAILED	RECONSIDERED

Clerk of the Senate

   ADOPTION NO. _____

BILL NO: H.5126  (Reference is to Printer's Date 04/21/26-S.)

04572000 

 Senator OTT proposes the following amendment (SM JOINT RECYCLING STUDY COMMITTEE):

 Amend the bill, as and if amended, Part IB, Section 117, GENERAL PROVISIONS, page 585, after line 27, by adding an appropriately numbered new proviso to read:

/ (GP: Joint Recycling Study Committee) (A) Of the funds appropriated in this act, the Department of Transportation and the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism shall jointly convene a study committee to review the existing Strategic State Plan for Litter, as established by Act 8 of 2015, and propose recommendations for the implementation of a Strategic State Plan for Recycling and any corresponding recommendations to the Take Palmetto Pride in Where You Live Commission.

 (B) The committee shall study the following areas:

  (1) quantity and sources of litter across the State to include the relative percentage of recyclable materials found in litter;

  (2) as available, the cost of local governments to manage litter, illegal dumping, and local recycling;

  (3) assessment of existing state and local recycling programs, public awareness campaigns, and enforcement programs including the effectiveness of current penalties and collection of fines;

  (4) assessment of the sufficiency of existing state laws and local ordinances related to litter clean-up, prevention, and recycling; and

  (5) the cost to local governments to implement a strategic recycling plan as recommended by the study committee.

 (C) The study committee shall be comprised of the following:

  (1) one member appointed by the Secretary of Transportation;

  (2) one member appointed by the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism;

  (3) one member appointed by the Director of the Department of Natural Resources;

  (4) one member appointed by the Secretary of Commerce;

  (5) two members appointed by the President of the Senate;

  (6) two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

 Of the members selected from the Senate and House of Representatives, the committee shall select a chair and a co-chair, one from each respective body.

  (7) one member appointed by Governor representing local government interests; and

  (8) three members appointed by the Governor who have expertise in the following fields:

   (a) beverage manufacturing, wholesaling, distribution, and retail;

   (b) waste management and recycling; and

   (c) litter prevention.

 (D) Members of the study committee shall serve ex officio and receive no compensation, but may receive mileage, per diem, or subsistence from the department or organization the member represents.

 (E) The study committee must submit a research-based plan of recommended actions that can be used statewide to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Chairman of House Ways & Means Committee, and the Chairman of Senate Finance Committee no later than March 1, 2027. / 

 Renumber sections to conform.

 Amend sections, totals and title to conform.