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Fireworks legislation dies on procedural mix-up
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Legislation to legalize consumer fireworks will not move out of the Ohio House this year after a procedural mix-up during a committee vote early Wednesday afternoon.
SB 386 had just enough support to move out of the Health Committee, but Chairman Lynn Wachtmann, R-Napoleon, accidentally adjourned the meeting before all members registered their votes.
SB 386 sought to allow the use of consumer-grade fireworks such as Roman candles and bottle rockets, within the state’s border.
Such products can be purchased in Ohio by anyone 18 or older, but they cannot be used in the state. Instead, they must be taken over the state’s borders within 48 hours of purchase.
SB 386 would eliminate the requirement that consumer-grade fireworks be taken out of the state within two days of purchase and would allow buyers to “discharge, ignite or explode” such fireworks on their property or another’s, with permission.
Age restrictions would remain in place for the purchase of fireworks, and sellers would be required to provide safety glasses and a safety pamphlet prepared by the state fire marshal to customers.
The legislation also would institute a new 4 percent fee on fireworks purchases, with the proceeds directed to the state fire marshal for training and enforcement efforts.
The provisions would not take effect until 2016, after the state fire marshal drafts rules for the “time, manner and location” that consumer-grade fireworks could be used.
The House’s Health Committee had its initial hearing on the legislation Wednesday, with the bill’s sponsor and proponents and opponents of the law changes offering testimony.
“The fireworks-related injury rate has dropped from 38.3 injuries per 100,000 pounds of fireworks consumed in 1976 to 6.1 injuries per 100,000 pounds in 2013,” said Sen. Dave Burke, R-Marysville, who wrote SB 386 and carried the legislation in the Senate.
But opponents, citing other statistics, say 11,400 people visited emergency rooms nationally last year due to fireworks-related injuries.
Burke told members of the Health Committee that he would reintroduce the legislation, as written, next year.