2023-03-29                     Senate Journal                      Page 0608
SB 117                                                                                                                        
SENATE BILL NO. 117 BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE                                                                               
BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR, entitled:                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
          "An Act relating to fireworks; repealing restrictions                                                                 
          on the sale of fireworks; directing the Department of                                                                 
          Public Safety to adopt fireworks regulations; and                                                                     
          providing for an effective date."                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
was read the first time and referred to the State Affairs and Labor and                                                         
Commerce Committees.                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
The following fiscal information was published today:                                                                           
 Fiscal Note No. 1, Department of Public Safety                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Governor's transmittal letter dated March 28:                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
Dear President Stevens:                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
Under the authority of Article III, Section 18, of the Alaska                                                                   
Constitution, I am transmitting a bill that would shift the substantive                                                         
rules relating to the sale, storage, and use of fireworks in Alaska from                                                        
statute to regulation, thereby allowing a more streamlined and up-to-                                                           
date approach to the state’s management of fireworks.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
The bill would eliminate the substantive statutes governing fireworks                                                           
and, in their place, authorize and direct the Department of Public                                                              
Safety (DPS) to adopt regulations for the sale, storage, and use of                                                             
fireworks. The fireworks statutes have not changed in several decades,                                                          
and this bill is intended to allow DPS to bring the state’s rules in-step                                                       
with more modern approaches found in the International Fire Code                                                                
and National Fire Protection Association regulations.                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
Under the bill, DPS would be required to enact regulations                                                                      
establishing minimum standards for the sale, storage, distribution, and                                                         
use of fireworks, and would be permitted to establish reasonable fees                                                           
for fireworks permits and inspections. The department would further                                                             
be authorized to enter any building where fireworks are stored or kept                                                          
for the sole purpose of ensuring compliance with fireworks                                                                      
regulations.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                

2023-03-29                     Senate Journal                      Page 0609
Regulations adopted by DPS under this bill would supersede                                                                      
municipal ordinances relating to fireworks that are less restrictive than                                                       
the department’s regulations. A municipality would be permitted,                                                                
however, to enact ordinances that are more restrictive than the                                                                 
regulations. A violation of regulations established under the bill would                                                        
be a class B misdemeanor.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
I urge your prompt and favorable action on this measure.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Sincerely,                                                                                                                      
/s/                                                                                                                             
Mike Dunleavy                                                                                                                   
Governor