Senate committee approves amendment to lower dry-cleaners’ trust-fund balance requirement
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Summary
Lawmakers voted to move a bill that would change the required retained balance for the Alabama Dry Cleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund; sponsors said the existing $1 million threshold prevents use of the fund for its intended remediation purposes and that only about 19 dry cleaners remain statewide.
A bill concerning the Alabama Dry Cleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund moved forward from the committee after sponsors said it would relax the fund’s retained-balance requirement.
A presenting senator said current law requires the advisory board to keep $1 million in an account and that the bill would reduce that retained balance "down to $2.50" as written in the discussion. The presenter said stakeholders, including a dry-cleaning owner named Jim Massey who spoke with legislators, told lawmakers the $1 million limit prevents the trust from being used for its intended investigation and remediation work. The presenter said the state now has roughly 19 dry-cleaning businesses and that the high retained balance is no longer appropriate.
The committee recorded a favorable report after a motion by Senator Hatcher, seconded by Senator Carnley; the chair announced the bill received a favorable report and the matter will move forward for further consideration.
The presenter said he had consulted with the Alabama Dry Cleaning Environmental Response Trust Fund Advisory Board and with affected businesses and that stakeholders did not oppose the draft as presented. The hearing record does not include a detailed fiscal note or an exact implementation date for the proposed change.