California Gov. Jerry Brown signs bill to ban single-use plastic bags

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- 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," Brown said.

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.

"If this law were allowed to go into effect it would jeopardize thousands of California manufacturing jobs, hurt the environment, and fleece consumers for billions so grocery store shareholders and their union partners can line their pockets," the American Progressive Bag Alliance said in a statement. "Since state lawmakers failed their constituents by approving this terrible bill, we will take the question directly to the public."

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.

Hawaii is on track to have a de-facto statewide ban, with all counties approving prohibitions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.