A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to direct the environmental review commission to study the feasibility and desirability of phasing out the use of incandescent lamps and to direct the department of environment and natural resources to develop a proposal for a recycling program for fluorescent lamps.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The Environmental Review Commission shall study the feasibility and desirability of phasing out the use of various types of general service incandescent lamps and replacing them with more energy efficient forms of lighting.  As a part of this study, the Commission shall consider the extent to which practical and cost‑effective alternative forms of lighting, including energy efficient incandescent lighting, are available and the short‑ and long‑term costs and benefits of replacing general service incandescent lamps with more energy efficient forms of lighting.  The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the 2008 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
SECTION 2.  The Division of Waste Management and the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall jointly develop a proposal for a recycling program for fluorescent lamps.  The program will be developed so as to ensure that substantially all of the mercury contained in fluorescent lamps will be recovered so as to facilitate a phase‑out of incandescent lamps without damage to public health and the environment from the increased use of mercury lamps as replacements for fluorescent lamps. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall report its findings and recommendations, including legislative proposals and cost estimates, to the Environmental Review Commission on or before 1 March 2008. 
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.