(a) Producers may establish one or more stewardship organizations composed of producers to develop and implement a covered battery recycling program.

(b) (1) A producer shall comply with this chapter, and any effective regulations adopted pursuant to Section 42420.2, either individually or through a stewardship organization established pursuant to subdivision (a).

(2) A producer shall not sell, distribute for sale, offer for sale, or import for sale a covered battery in or into this state unless the producer is in compliance with this chapter and any regulations in effect and adopted pursuant to Section 42420.2.

(3) Every producer shall, no later than 180 days after the effective date of this chapter, notify all persons through which it is selling, distributing, importing, or offering for sale a covered battery in or into the state for sale in or into the state whether it will comply with this chapter individually or through a stewardship organization.

(c) Each producer covered under a stewardship organization shall register with that stewardship organization in accordance with the procedures and requirements established by that stewardship organization and shall comply with those procedures and requirements.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 351, Sec. 1. (AB 2440) Effective January 1, 2023.)