1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to the environment; providing direction to 
  1.3             public entities for developing bid specifications and 
  1.4             procurement of commodities and services to promote 
  1.5             recycled materials; amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, 
  1.6             section 16B.121; proposing coding for new law in 
  1.7             Minnesota Statutes, chapter 16C. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 16B.121, is 
  1.10  amended to read: 
  1.11     16B.121 [PURCHASE OF RECYCLED, REPAIRABLE, AND DURABLE 
  1.12  MATERIALS.] 
  1.13     (a) The commissioner shall take the recycled content and 
  1.14  recyclability of commodities to be purchased into consideration 
  1.15  in bid specifications.  When ~~feasible and when~~ the price of 
  1.16  recycled materials does not exceed the price of nonrecycled 
  1.17  materials by more than ten percent and the recycled material 
  1.18  provides comparable quality and performance, the commissioner, 
  1.19  and state agencies when purchasing under delegated authority, 
  1.20  shall purchase recycled materials.  In order to maximize the 
  1.21  quantity and quality of recycled materials purchased, the 
  1.22  commissioner, and state agencies when purchasing under delegated 
  1.23  authority, may ~~also~~ use other appropriate procedures to acquire 
  1.24  recycled materials at the most economical cost to the state. 
  1.25     ~~When purchasing~~ (b) In writing specifications for the 
  1.26  purchase of commodities and services, and in purchasing those 
  2.1   commodities and services, the commissioner, and state agencies 
  2.2   when purchasing under delegated authority, shall: 
  2.3      (1) incorporate requirements relating to the recyclability 
  2.4   and ultimate disposition of products; 
  2.5      (2) write specifications so as to minimize the amount of 
  2.6   solid waste generated by the state; 
  2.7      (3) apply and promote the preferred waste management 
  2.8   practices listed in section 115A.02, with special emphasis on 
  2.9   reduction of the quantity and toxicity of materials in waste~~.~~  
  2.10  ~~The commissioner, and state agencies when purchasing under~~ 
  2.11  ~~delegated authority, in developing bid specifications, shall~~; 
  2.12     (4) consider the extent to which a commodity or product is 
  2.13  durable, reusable, or recyclable and marketable through the 
  2.14  state resource recovery program and the extent to which the 
  2.15  commodity or product contains postconsumer material; 
  2.16     (5) discourage the purchase of single-use, disposable 
  2.17  products and require, whenever practicable, the purchase of 
  2.18  multiple-use, durable products. 
  2.19     (c) The commissioner, and state agencies when purchasing 
  2.20  under delegated authority, shall amend its procurement 
  2.21  procedures to provide for a reasonable preference for 
  2.22  commodities and services that promote the policies described in 
  2.23  paragraph (b), clauses (1) to (5). 
  2.24     Sec. 2.  [16C.126] [ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS.] 
  2.25     (a) All requests for bids for computers and other 
  2.26  electronic products must specify that the vendor will take back 
  2.27  the product once the useful life of the product has been 
  2.28  reached.  The commissioner shall develop a list of electronic 
  2.29  and other products appropriate for this requirement in 
  2.30  consultation with the office of environmental assistance. 
  2.31     (b) Product leasing instead of purchasing may be used for 
  2.32  products to meet the requirements of paragraph (a) if the lease 
  2.33  requires that the product be returned to the vendor for 
  2.34  recycling or reuse at the end of its useful life.