1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to solid waste; requiring study of unlawful shipment of infectious or 
1.3 	pathological waste; appropriating money.
1.4 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.5 	Section 1. APPROPRIATION; STUDY OF UNLAWFUL SHIPMENT OF 
1.6 	INFECTIOUS OR PATHOLOGICAL WASTE.
 1.7 	(a) By January 15, 2027, the commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency must submit 
1.8 	a study to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives 
1.9 	committees and divisions with primary jurisdiction over environment and health and human 
1.10 	services on the unlawful transportation of infectious or pathological waste to solid waste 
1.11 	management facilities. The study must include:
1.12 	(1) an assessment of the extent and frequency of unlawful transfer of infectious or 
1.13 	pathological waste to solid waste management facilities and an assessment of the costs 
1.14 	associated with those unlawful transfers;
1.15 	(2) a survey of a representative sample of known generators of infectious waste regarding 
1.16 	current practices for ensuring infectious and pathological waste is segregated from other 
1.17 	waste material as required by Minnesota Statutes, section 116.78; and
1.18 	(3) recommendations for legislative or policy changes that could be adopted to reduce 
1.19 	the frequency and cost of unlawful transfers of infectious or pathological waste, including 
1.20 	an estimate of the costs to state agencies. In formulating these recommendations, the 
1.21 	commissioner must consider whether the following measures might contribute to a reduction 
1.22 	in unlawful transfers of infectious or pathological waste to solid waste management facilities:
2.1 	(i) imposing fines on those who unlawfully transport infectious or pathological waste 
2.2 	to solid waste management facilities; and
2.3 	(ii) undertaking unannounced inspections of infectious or pathological waste generators.
2.4 	(b) $75,000 in fiscal year 2027 is appropriated from the environmental fund to the 
2.5 	commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency to conduct the study required by this section. 
2.6 	This is a onetime appropriation.