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Summary of Question 2
This proposed law would expand the state's beverage container deposit law, also known as the Bottle Bill, to require deposits on containers for all non-alcoholic non-carbonated drinks in liquid form intended for human consumption, except beverages primarily derived from dairy products, infant formula, and FDA approved medicines. The proposed law would not cover containers made of paper-based biodegradable material and aseptic multi-material packages such as juice boxes or pouches. The proposed law would require the state Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) to adjust the container deposit amount every five years to reflect (to the nearest whole cent) changes in the consumer price index, but the value could not be set below five cents. The proposed law would increase the minimum handling fee that beverage distributors must pay dealers for each properly returned empty beverage container, which was 2 1/4 cents as of September 2013, to 3 1/2 cents. It would also increase the minimum handling fee that bottlers must pay distributors and dealers for each properly returned empty reusable beverage container, which was 1 cent as of September 2013, to 3 1/2 cents. The Secretary of EEA would review the fee amounts every five years and make appropriate adjustments to reflect changes in the consumer price index as well as changes in the costs incurred by redemption centers. The proposed law defines a redemption center as any business whose primary purpose is the redemption of beverage containers and that is not ancillary to any other business. The proposed law would direct the Secretary of EEA to issue regulations allowing small dealers to seek exemptions from accepting empty deposit containers. The proposed law would define small dealer as any person or business, including the operator of a vending machine, who sells beverages in beverage containers to consumers, with a contiguous retail space of 3,000 square feet or less, excluding office and stock room space; and fewer than four locations under the same ownership in the Commonwealth. The proposed law would require that the regulations consider at least the health, safety, and convenience of the public, including the distribution of dealers and redemption centers by population or by distance or both. The proposed law would set up a state Clean Environment Fund to receive certain unclaimed container deposits. The Fund would be used, subject to appropriation by the state Legislature, to support programs such as the proper management of solid waste, water resource protection, parkland, urban forestry, air quality and climate protection. The proposed law would allow a dealer, distributor, redemption center or bottler to refuse to accept any beverage container that is not marked as being refundable in Massachusetts. The proposed law would take effect on April 22, 2015.

2014 - Franklin County - Question 2Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives on or before May 6, 2014?

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Franklin County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
10,935
15,255
696 26,886
Ashfield
 
479
367
21
867
Bernardston
 
257
534
17
808
Buckland
 
347
383
20
750
Charlemont
 
175
262
7
444
Colrain
 
235
358
8
601
Conway
 
507
438
15
960
Deerfield
 
906
1,325
29
2,260
Erving
 
139
376
4
519
Gill
 
222
419
8
649
Greenfield More »
 
2,086
3,161
318
5,565
Hawley
 
55
90
1
146
Heath
 
144
161
8
313
Leverett
 
640
281
16
937
Leyden
 
166
204
2
372
Monroe
 
11
24
1
36
Montague More »
 
1,113
1,882
53
3,048
New Salem
 
200
257
5
462
Northfield
 
452
703
25
1,180
Orange More »
 
584
1,721
41
2,346
Rowe
 
58
92
3
153
Shelburne
 
391
381
39
811
Shutesbury
 
544
332
25
901
Sunderland
 
528
694
10
1,232
Warwick
 
138
213
8
359
Wendell
 
267
146
6
419
Whately
 
291
451
6
748
County Totals
10,935
15,255
696 26,886