Plastic gift cards: prohibition.

Existing law regulates the manufacture, sale, and disposal of various plastic products, including, but not limited to, single-use foodware accessories, single-use carryout bags, trash bags, packaging containers, and microbeads. This bill would prohibit, beginning January 1, 2027, a retailer from selling, offering for sale, or distributing plastic gift cards, except those that are both usable with multiple unaffiliated sellers of goods and that have the expiration date, if any, printed on the card. The bill would authorize a retailer to continue to sell, offer for sale, or distribute an existing stock of plastic gift cards until January 1, 2028, as specified. The bill would authorize various entities to enforce these provisions, and would impose specified civil penalties for violations of these provisions. The bill would specify that its provisions do not apply to a plastic card used to pay public transit fares.