AN ACT CONCERNING THE GAS CYLINDER STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM.

This bill allows a gas cylinder stewardship organization to file a civil lawsuit against a producer if the producer fails to follow the program's rules and causes the organization to incur more than $500 in costs related to handling, recycling, or disposing of cylinders. The law defines these costs to include administrative expenses, education efforts, and legal fees, ensuring that non-compliant producers pay for the financial burden their actions place on the stewardship program. Importantly, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is not required to participate in or assist with these lawsuits, giving the stewardship organization the authority to take legal action independently. This change aims to provide a direct legal mechanism for enforcing compliance within the gas cylinder stewardship framework without relying on state agency intervention.