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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 - Hampden 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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Hampden County Results
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City/Town Ward Pct Blanks Total Votes Cast
Totals
27,603
106,640
3,673 137,916
Agawam More »
 
1,511
8,682
111
10,304
Blandford
 
118
391
6
515
Brimfield
 
272
1,159
15
1,446
Chester
 
95
368
4
467
Chicopee More »
 
2,582
13,211
278
16,071
E. Longmeadow More »
 
963
5,326
79
6,368
Granville
 
164
517
13
694
Hampden
 
422
1,762
29
2,213
Holland
 
200
689
23
912
Holyoke More »
 
3,072
6,891
522
10,485
Longmeadow More »
 
1,658
5,597
100
7,355
Ludlow More »
 
1,000
5,536
113
6,649
Monson More »
 
610
2,336
59
3,005
Montgomery
 
73
317
4
394
Palmer More »
 
785
3,296
96
4,177
Russell
 
111
443
10
564
Southwick More »
 
602
2,938
55
3,595
Springfield More »
 
8,272
24,428
1,675
34,375
Tolland
 
53
144
2
199
Wales
 
143
530
5
678
W. Springfield More »
 
1,366
6,988
118
8,472
Westfield More »
 
2,358
10,232
224
12,814
Wilbraham More »
 
1,173
4,859
132
6,164
County Totals
27,603
106,640
3,673 137,916