House Bill 539 amends provisions
of the Local Government Code and Occupations Code relating to the regulation of
fireworks and fireworks displays. The bill:
- adds certain pop rockets to the list of fireworks that
are not permitted
- modifies the membership of the advisory council
appointed to assist the commissioner of insurance regarding regulation of fireworks
and fireworks displays to include a representative of a county fire
marshal's office
- adds to the periods when fireworks may be sold to the
public to include sales between May 1 and May 5 in certain counties near
the Texas-Mexico border
- raises the minimum age of a person to whom fireworks
may be sold from 12 years of age to 16 years of age
- prohibits a person from employing or allowing a person
younger than 16 years of age to manufacture, distribute, sell, or purchase
fireworks, or employing a person younger than 18 years of age to sell
fireworks at a retail sales location, with certain exceptions
- makes violations of provisions relating to selling,
storing, manufacturing, distributing, or displaying fireworks and the
above provisions relating to employment a Class C misdemeanor
- modifies the criteria by which the Texas Forest Service
determines whether drought conditions exist in any county that has
requested such a determination and requires the Texas Forest Service to
make its services available each day during the Fourth of July and
December fireworks seasons.
The provisions of House Bill 539 take effect June 15, 2007,
except the provision relating to the banning of certain pop rockets, which
takes effect January 2, 2008.