CA lawmakers pass statewide plastic bags ban

SACRAMENTO, CA -- California is one step closer to becoming the first state to impose a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

The Senate passed SB270 on Friday after it was approved by the Assembly a day earlier. The proposal now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown for signature.

Sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla of Los Angeles, the bill bans the use of plastic bags at grocery stores and large pharmacies by 2015. Convenience stores would begin the ban in 2016.

Senators who originally opposed the bill voted in favor after protections were added for plastic bag manufacturers, including $2 million loans to help manufacturers transition to making reusable bags.

Los Angeles and San Francisco are among about 100 local jurisdictions in California that have already adopted a ban.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.