CA SB561

Creates a manufacturer responsibility program requiring producers of emergency distress flares (pyrotechnic signaling devices for marine vessels used for pleasure) to develop and implement plans for collecting, transporting, and safely disposing of these hazardous products at no cost to consumers

Prohibits the sale, distribution, or import of covered flares containing perchlorate in California

Requires manufacturers to form a single manufacturer responsibility organization if multiple manufacturers exist, submit plans to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) by January 1, 2028, and provide annual reports starting March 1, 2028

Mandates temporary collection events in each coastal county and each county bordering Lake Tahoe annually until January 1, 2029, along with a comprehensive statewide education and outreach program

Establishes the Marine Flare Recovery Fund in the State Treasury, funded by manufacturers paying DTSC's regulatory costs, with enforcement penalties delayed until July 1, 2029