BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 3337

By: Bowers

County Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

It has been reported that certain cities in Texas are having issues with people illegally shooting off fireworks within city limits. People are able to purchase fireworks just outside of city limits in which fireworks are otherwise illegal, and police officers are frequently called to deal with the situation when those fireworks are shot off. C.S.H.B. 3337 seeks to discourage the illegal use of fireworks by requiring retail fireworks sites in more populous counties to display a sign alerting customers to the fact that firework use is illegal within city limits.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 3337 amends the Occupations Code to require a retail fireworks permit holder whose retail fireworks site is located in a county with a population of 100,000 or more to prominently display at the site a warning sign that includes language identical to the following: "State Law: Firework use prohibited within city limits." The sign must be written in English in letters at least one inch in height and be displayed at the point of sale in the site.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2021.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 3337 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

The substitute changes the original's provisions as follows:

·       limits the applicability of the duty to display the sign to retail fireworks sites located in counties with a population of 100,000 or more;

·       revises the prescribed language of the sign;

·       omits the requirement that the sign also be written in Spanish, as required by the original; and

·       restricts the locations at which the sign must be displayed to only the point of sale in the site, whereas the original required the sign to be displayed at all public entrances and exits and each point of sale in the site.