SB 615 Summary

• Establishes a vehicle traction battery recovery and recycling program requiring battery suppliers to ensure responsible end-of-life management of lithium-ion and advanced vehicle traction batteries through reuse, repair, repurposing, remanufacturing, or recycling.

• Requires battery suppliers, secondary users, secondary handlers, auctioneers, and salvage auctions to report battery sales, transfers, and receipts to the Department of Toxic Substances Control using a unique identifier system with an effective date no later than July 1, 2028.

• Creates the Vehicle Traction Battery Recovery Fund to be financed by battery suppliers paying the department's actual and reasonable regulatory costs, with provisions allowing the Director of Finance to make loans from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for startup costs.

• Requires the department to conduct studies on abandoned and orphaned batteries by January 1, 2030, and every three years thereafter, and to maintain a public compliance list of battery suppliers.

• Imposes civil and administrative penalties for violations but exempts violations from criminal penalties under hazardous waste laws; requires all reports and records be provided under penalty of perjury.