Enrolled Bill Summary

House Bill 539	House Author:  Smith, Wayne et al.
Effective:  See below	Senate Sponsor:  West, Royce

            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.