California becomes 1st state to ban plastic bags

LOS ANGELES -- Gov. Jerry Brown has signed the nation's first statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

"This bill is a step in the right direction," Brown said in a statement. "It reduces the torrent of plastic polluting our beaches, parks and even the vast ocean itself."

Sponsored by Sen. Alex Padilla of Los Angeles, SB270 prohibits large grocery stores and pharmacies from distributing single-use plastic bags after July 2015. The same ban will apply to convenience stores and liquor stores in 2016.

"We're the first to ban these bags, and we won't be the last."

Los Angeles and San Francisco are among over 120 local jurisdictions in California that have already adopted a ban.

A national coalition of plastic bag manufacturers immediately said it would seek a voter referendum to repeal the law.

Responding to the concerns about job losses, the bill includes $2 million in loans for plastic bag manufacturers to shift their operations to make reusable bags. That provision won the support of Los Angeles Democratic Sens. Kevin De Leon and Ricardo Lara, who had blocked earlier versions of the legislation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.