Senate committee in California to hold hearing on bag ban passed by Assembly

A California Senate committee is expected to hold a hearing on a potential statewide ban on the retailers' distribution of plastic bags.

Assembly Bill 298 is in front of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. The bill would outlaw retail establishments from handling out single-use plastic and paper bags to customers beginning on Jan. 1, 2014.

The bill offers some exceptions, as the store must have a gross annual sales of more than $2 million, have at least 10,000 square feet of retail space or is a convenience store or food store. Stores would be allowed to offer paper bags and compostable bags for sale.

The bill passed the Assembly, 49-25, according to the state's website.

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