AR HB1043

Enacts the Reusable Shopping Bag Act, effective January 1, 2012, prohibiting stores from providing single-use plastic carryout bags to customers.

Defines "reusable bag" as designed and manufactured for at least 100 uses and made of washable material without toxic levels of lead or other heavy metals; paper bags are excluded from the prohibition.

Applies to supermarkets with gross annual sales of $2,000,000 or more, retail stores with over 10,000 square feet of contiguous space with a licensed pharmacy, and convenience food stores.

Requires affected stores to make reusable bags available for purchase by customers.

Directs the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to administer the law and submit a report to the General Assembly by January 1, 2015 on the act's effectiveness and recommendations for expanding the prohibition to all retail establishments.