As California Receipt Bill Falters, Paper Receipts Association Stands Strong for Consumer Choice
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The Paper Receipts Converting Association (PRCA) is pleased to announce that California Bill AB 1347, which proposed stringent regulations on the use of paper receipts in the state, failed to move past Senate Appropriations last week. A victory for consumers and industry alike, the bill will not move forward in the state's 2023-24 legislative session.
Upon AB 1347's introduction earlier this year, PRCA quickly began to communicate the value of paper receipts to lawmakers in California, working closely with other groups such as the American Forest and Paper Association, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Retail Council, and local community groups like the Imperial Valley Food Bank and Long Beach's Su Casa.
As the bill aimed to limit the use of paper receipts in the state, PRCA championed not only the consumers who prefer tangible paper records, but also those who depend on them. A letter from the Coalition to Support Low-Income Consumers to the CA Assembly clearly summed up the issue: "AB 1347 is an attempt to address paper waste while ignoring the real-world hardships the bill would levy, especially on low-income and underserved communities that rely on coupons [which are often printed on receipts]."
Mike Rapier, President of PRCA, expressed his appreciation for the decision, stating, "We are pleased to see that AB 1347 has been withdrawn. This decision demonstrates a commitment to balance the interests of consumers and businesses alike. Paper receipts offer a tangible and secure record of transactions for consumers, and they are vital to the operations of many businesses. PRCA has worked diligently to convey the importance of paper receipts in our modern economy, and this outcome reflects the success of those efforts."
Looking to the future, the paper receipts industry is poised to offer even more valuable and innovative record-keeping solutions to consumers in California and beyond. Many efforts are underway to eliminate phenol-based chemicals from receipt paper and increase engagement with consumers. PRCA will release new consumer data highlighting preferences around paper receipts later in 2023.
