Pub. Resources Code, § 42279

(a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(1) In November 2016, voters approved Proposition 67, a statewide referendum to uphold Senate Bill 270 (Chapter 850 of the Statutes of 2014) that banned single-use carryout bags. As a result, most grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience food stores, foodmarts, and liquor stores no longer provide single-use, lightweight, plastic carryout bags to their customers at the point of sale.

(2) Senate Bill 270 (Chapter 850 of the Statutes of 2014) allowed the use of thicker plastic carryout bags that were deemed reusable if they met specified standards. These thicker plastic carryout bags were not generally reused by consumers and resulted in an increased amount of plastic and plastic waste.

(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to do all of the following:

(1) Support and reflect the will of California voters who voted to ban the distribution of plastic carryout bags at stores.

(2) Incentivize California consumers to bring their own reusable bag for carrying out store purchases, with stores encouraging and supporting this practice, which will reduce the costly and wasteful practice of relying on store-provided carryout bags.

(3) Support sustainable and thriving communities and natural environments that are not burdened with pollution from plastic production nor littered with plastic waste.

(4) Eliminate plastic film carryout bags from grocery store distribution and increase the recycling of paper carryout bags.

(5) Reduce the proliferation of plastic pollution by eliminating the existing provision of law that allows plastic film carryout bags to be distributed as reusable bags under the state’s bag ban.