Staff Reports
A bill that would increase requirements for proposed constitutional amendments to get on the ballot is now on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk.
SB 1794 raises the threshold for initiatives to trigger judicial review to 25% of total required signatures. Right now, the review happens at 10%.
It also requires those signatures come from half of the congressional districts in Florida, rather than one quarter, as the law currently requires.
It also prevents petition signatures from rolling over to the next ballot and would allow county supervisors to increase charges for petition verification.
Critics say the bill would make it more difficult, in some cases prohibitively so, to get amendments on the ballot.
Last month a slew of advocacy groups led by the League of Women Voters of Florida signed on to a letter urging DeSantis to veto the bill.
Now that DeSantis has formally received the bill, he has 15 days to sign or veto the measure. If approved
The constitutional amendment bill was one of a half-dozen sent to the Governor of Wednesday. Others include a bill reauthorizing the state’s tourism marketing agency, VISIT FLORIDA, and a bill allowing Floridians to legally purchase and set off fireworks on certain holidays.
DeSantis has expressed support reupping VISIT FLORIDA and lawmakers included funding for the agency in the 2020-21 budget after it seemed likely to get the axe for most of the Legislative Session, before the coronavirus’ impact on the tourism industry compelled the House to relent and reauthorize it.
The bill will keep VISIT FLORIDA in statute through 2023, a shorter span than the Senate recommended but longer than the one-year extension the House initially offered.
On fireworks, Floridians have skirted the state’s ban for years by taking advantage of an agricultural industry loophole that allows them to be sold if the buyer signs a form declaring they will use them for “frightening birds.”
The bill would no longer to require Floridians to make such a claim if they set off the fireworks on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and Independence Day.
2 comments
Dana
April 10, 2020 at 2:58 pm
I am from NYC and have enjoyed professional fireworks my entire life. There is no reason to have them legalized when experts handle them safely and efficiently.
Here is the issue:
Illegally using fireworks is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. However, Florida police have said the law is hard to enforce. … Private citizens can purchase and shoot consumer fireworks. Only professional or display fireworks require a license
Private citizens should not be allowed to purchase & shoot consumer fireworks!!! That’s the answer.
Although, Florida is not NY – we can learn a lot from them.
This may be common-sense advice but, unfortunately, every year people still ignore firework laws and safety guidelines and then suffer the consequences. In fact, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, every year more than 8,500 people end up in hospital emergency rooms with fireworks-related injuries – the majority of which are burn injuries on the face, eyes, ears, hands, fingers, and legs. Another sobering fact, more than half of the fireworks-related injuries involve children and young adults under the age of 20.
As of June 6, 2019, these are the registered sparking device vendors approved by New York state.
New York State is stricter than some other states when it comes to banning fireworks. It is illegal to buy or set off any of the following anywhere in the state unless you have a permit — firecrackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, spinners, and any other type of firework that goes up in the air. In some (but not all) New York counties, however, it is legal to buy and set off sparklers, but even then there are restrictions.
It is illegal to use, buy, sell, or transport any consumer fireworks in NYC.
Sparklers must be hand-held or mounted on a base or stick and cannot contain more than 500 grams of pyrotechnic material. The law defines sparklers as devices that produce colored sparks or a colored flame, make a whistling or crackling noise, and give off smoke; that means sparklers on wooden (not metal) sticks, cylindrical and cone-shaped sparkling fountains, snakes, party poppers filled with confetti, snappers wrapped in paper, and smoking devices.
How old do you have to be to buy fireworks in New York?
Sparklers must be hand-held or mounted on a base or stick and cannot contain more than 500 grams of pyrotechnic material. The law defines sparklers as devices that produce colored sparks or a colored flame, make a whistling or crackling noise, and give off smoke; that means sparklers on wooden (not metal) sticks, cylindrical and cone-shaped sparkling fountains, snakes, party poppers filled with confetti, snappers wrapped in paper, and smoking devices.
Purchasing Sparklers
Sparklers can only be sold for the Fourth of July holiday during specified times — from July 1 to July 5 at permanent stores that are state-certified and from June 20 to July 5 at temporary tents or stands.
Are Sparklers Legal In NYC? No. You cannot set off sparklers in any county (including anywhere in New York City) where sparklers are illegal, even if you bought them in a county where their sale and use is permitted.
HOW TO REPORT ILLEGAL FIREWORKS IN NEW YORK CITY
If you see something, say something, as the expression goes. The city is committed to stopping the illegal sale and use of fireworks and law enforcement are relying on people throughout the city to report any illegal fireworks activities they see. Reporting is easy, and you could help prevent firework injuries. You might even receive a reward. The city is offering up to $1,000 for tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of people selling, storing, or transporting fireworks.
If you know that large amounts of fireworks are being stored, or if the sale or use of fireworks is in progress, call 911.
If you know of past or chronic fireworks sale or use, or if you have any tips, call 311.
Dana
April 10, 2020 at 4:40 pm
Private citizens should have a license.
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