Bill would let counties pass fireworks bans
POSTED: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Counties would have the authority to impose fireworks bans under a proposal adopted by the state House yesterday.
The provisions were included in an amendment to Senate Bill 1059.
House members voted unanimously in favor of the new version of the bill without debating the measure. A final vote on the measure is expected later this week.
Senate Bill 1059 also would establish an illegal-fireworks task force to develop a plan to stop the importation of illegal fireworks and explosives. A report would be due back to the Legislature by Jan. 10.
If the measure passes, state law would revert back to the way it was before 1994, when lawmakers approved a comprehensive fireworks law to bring uniformity across the state.
Some House members have called for stricter measures to stop the proliferation of illegal fireworks.
A statewide ban on fireworks that would have allowed counties to opt out failed to advance in the Senate.
State Rep. Barbara Marumoto is among those who have called for a total ban on fireworks.
“;New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July have become detrimental to our health and to our environment,”; Marumoto (R, Kalani Valley-Diamond Head) said in a news release.