AB 863 Summary

• Establishes a new Carpet Producer Responsibility Program requiring producers to form a single producer responsibility organization (PRO) to manage collection, transportation, and recycling of carpet in California, effective when department regulations are adopted and a producer responsibility plan is approved.

• Increases civil penalties for violations of the existing carpet stewardship program from $5,000 per day to $10,000 per day, and from $10,000 per day to $25,000 per day for intentional, knowing, or negligent violations.

• Requires the PRO governing board to include nonvoting members representing environmental organizations, retailers, and labor representatives from northern and southern California apprenticeship programs, with the organization paying their travel and participation costs.

• Mandates the PRO allocate 8% of annual assessments collected for grants to apprenticeship programs training carpet installers in proper installation and recycling techniques, with funding split evenly between northern and southern California programs.

• Requires carpet producers to add at least 5% postconsumer recycled carpet content by 2028 and marks synthetic carpet with visual identification by 2027 to facilitate sorting for recycling.