Sparklers, non-aerial fireworks approved
Posted 4/26/02

By T.W. BUDIG
ECM Capitol Reporter

Sparklers and other non-aerial fireworks will be legal in Minnesota under a conference committee report passed by the Legislature Monday, April 22.

The reportís next step is the desk of Gov. Ventura, whoís likely to sign it. Ventura supported the original House fireworks provision, which was broader than the conference committee report.

"Thereís no rockets red, thereís no bombs bursting in the air anymore," said Rep. Mark Holsten, R, Stillwater, of the report which excluded firecrackers and bottle rockets found in the original House bill passed April 4.

The Senate passed the fireworks conference committee report on a 34 to 30 vote.

Debate on the report in the Senate focused on length of sale, the storage of fireworks, and the definition of fireworks found in the report.

Sen. Dave Johnson, DFL, Bloomington, argued that the definition was vague and invited court challenges. But Sen. David Tomassoni, DFL, Chisholm, said detractors were making a mountain out of molehill.

Over in the House, the fireworks conference committee report passed on a 78 to 49 vote after minimal debate.

Rep. Wes Skoglund, DFL, Minneapolis, warned that children would get burned and disfigured by sparklers ó parents donít normally send children out to play with a lighter, he said.

"Why should they with fireworks?" he asked.

"Weíre going to see nothing good come from this," said Skoglund, adding that the fireworksí provision was a starting point to bring all fireworks back to the state.

Rep. Dennis Ozment, R, Rosemount, a retired fire captain, said the House would be legalizing playing with fire if it passed the conference committee report.

Ozment criticized the bill for lacking a designation of liability for the fires that will be caused by the use of sparklers and other firework items.

But the House passed the report.

The fireworks provision was originally attached to a volunteer fire fightersí leave bill, which was killed in conference committee.

In other action, the Senate today refused to concur with an indoor air quality conference committee report containing a House amendment repealing the Profile of Learning.

Sen. Dan Stevens, R, Mora, offering the motion to concur on the report, spoke favorably of the House amendment.

"It (the profile) needs to be radically changed or eliminated," said Stevens.

The motion resulted in the Senate vote board being left open about 40 minutes while absent DFL senators were summoned back to the Senate chamber to vote on the motion.

The wait resulted in three missing DFLers ó Steve Kelley, Sandy Pappas, Myron Orfield ó returning and voting against the motion.

On a tie vote, the motion died.

Sen. Bob Lessard, Ind., International Falls, was absent Monday and did not return to vote.