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An Act Concerning Mercury-added Button Cell Batteries
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 38 MRSA §1661-C, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 509, §2, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
9.  Button cell batteries.   This subsection governs the sale of mercury-added button cell batteries.
 
A.  After June 30, 2011, a person may not sell or offer to sell or distribute for promotional purposes a mercury-added button cell battery identified in this paragraph or a product that contains a mercury-added button cell battery identified in this paragraph:
 
(1) A zinc-air button cell battery;
 
(2) An alkaline manganese button cell battery; or
 
(3) A silver oxide button cell battery stamped with the designation SR357, SR364, SR371, SR377 or SR395; and
 
B.  After January 1, 2015, a person may not sell or offer to sell or distribute for promotional purposes a silver oxide mercury-added button cell battery or a product that contains a silver oxide mercury-added button cell battery.
Sec. 2. 38 MRSA §2165, sub-§6, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 808, §2, is amended to read:
 
D.  An alkaline manganese battery manufactured on or after January 1, 1996 that contains any added mercury except that, until June 30, 2011, any alkaline manganese battery resembling a button or coin in size and shape, may containthat contains no more than 25 milligrams of mercury may be sold.
 
SUMMARY
This bill implements the recommendations of the Department of Environmental Protection in its report to the Legislature pursuant to Public Law 2005, chapter 509. The bill amends the ban on the sale of mercury-added button cell batteries.