BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



           SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
                              Senator Isadore Hall, III
                                        Chair
                                2015 - 2016  Regular 

          Bill No:           AB 467           Hearing Date:    6/9/2015
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          |Author:    |Chang                                                |
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          |Version:   |6/03/2015    Amended                                 |
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          |Urgency:   |No                     |Fiscal:      |Yes             |
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          |Consultant:|Felipe Lopez                                         |
          |           |                                                     |
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          SUBJECT: Pyrotechnic devices: model rockets.


            DIGEST:    This bill conforms California law to federal law by  
          increasing the maximum legal weight of a "model rocket" from 500  
          to 1,500 grams.

          ANALYSIS:
          
          Existing law:
          
          1)Authorizes the State Fire Marshall (SFM) to issue and renew  
            licenses of the manufacture, import, export, sale, and use of  
            all fireworks and pyrotechnic devices.

          2)Provides that a license shall not be required for the retail  
            sale, use, or discharge of model rocket engines.

          3)Requires the SFM to classify all fireworks and pyrotechnic  
            devices and prohibits the importation, sale, or offering for  
            sale prior to the classification.

          4)Requires all fireworks or toy propellant devices containing  
            pyrotechnic compositions that the SFM finds come within the  
            definition of a "model rocket" or "model rocket engine" to be  
            classified as model rocket engines.

          5)Prohibits a person from launching a model rocket from a site  
            without first securing authorization from the authority having  







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            jurisdiction.

          6)Defines a "model rocket" as a toy or educational device that  
            weighs not more than 500 grams, including the engine and  
            payload that is propelled by a model rocket engine. 

          7)Defines a "model rocket engine" as a commercially  
            manufactured, nonreusable rocket propulsion device that is  
            constructed of nonmetallic casing and solid propellant, as  
            provided.

          This bill:

          1)Adds to the definition of "model rocket" a requirement that it  
            conforms to the definition of "model rocket" as used in the  
            2013 edition of the "NFPA 1122: Code for model Rocketry," or a  
            more recent edition as adopted by the SMF, and would increase  
            the maximum weight of a model rocket to not more than 1,500  
            grams.

          2)Revises the definition of "model rocket motor" as used in the  
            2012 edition of the "NFPA 1125: Code for the Manufacture of  
            Model Rocket and High Power Rocket Motors," or a more recent  
            edition as adopted by the SFM.

          3)Changes all reference in statute to model rocket engines to  
            instead refer to model rocket motors.

          Background

          Purposes of the bill.  According to the author, current law  
          imposes handling restrictions based on standard rocket  
          technology uses at the time California law was enacted in the  
          1970s.  Unfortunately these provisions limit the use of  
          reloadable motors which have been used for over two decades.

          The author further argues that all these restrictions put  
          limitations on the learning experience of California youth who  
          use model rockets and put California students who participate in  
          national model rocket competitions at a severe disadvantage  
          since they have constraints on their rockets that don't apply to  
          students in other states.

          The author concludes that as the home of an important aerospace  
          industry, California's laws should be encouraging this important  








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          hobby.

          National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA).  The NFPA was  
          established in 1896 to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and  
          other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating  
          consensus codes and standards, research, training, and  
          education.  The NFPA develops and publishes more than 300  
          consensus codes and standards intended to minimize the  
          possibility and effects of fire and other risks.

          Some of these publications establish requirements for safety in  
          the manufacture of model and high power rocket motors, and  
          ensures reliability of rocket motors and motor-reloading kits  
          and their components.  NFPA's manufacturing operations rules for  
          rocket motors and composite propellant rocket motors cover  
          everything from permits, recordkeeping, and site security to  
          process building construction, means of egress, and fire and  
          explosion prevention.  Additional topics include storage of low  
          explosives, requirements for rocket motors and components, and  
          testing and certification.

          NFPA regulations are the standard regulations used for most  
          states and for federal law regarding model rocket and model  
          rocket motors.

          Prior/Related Legislation
          
          SB 777 (Calderon, 2015) authorizes, beginning January 1, 2017,  
          the sale of safe and sane fireworks during the week preceding  
          New Year's Day and makes numerous changes to the state laws  
          governing fireworks sales and disposals.  (Failed Passage in the  
          Senate Governmental Organization Committee)

          FISCAL EFFECT:                 Appropriation:  No    Fiscal  
          Com.:             Yes          Local:          No


            SUPPORT:  

          Diego Area Rocket Team
          Mavericks Civilian Space Foundation
          National Association of Rocketry
          RCS Rocket Motor Components, Inc.
          Southern California Rocketry Association
          40 members of the Tripoli Rocketry Association








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          OPPOSITION:

          None received

          ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT:    According to the Mavericks Civilian  
          Space Foundation, "current California law governing model  
          rockets is outdated and not aligned with modern rocketry.   
          Archaic model rocket laws are putting kids and teens at a  
          disadvantage in national competitions as well as discouraging  
          others from participating in an important learning experience  
          with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)  
          fundamentals."

          The National Association of Rocketry states that "federal law,  
          most states, and the National Fire Protection Association define  
          a model rocket as an amateur or toy rocket that weighs no more  
          than 1500 grams.  California law limits rockets to only 500  
          grams and applies restrictions to the composition of the rocket,  
          including a ban on any metallic materials.  However, model  
          rockets have been universally defined as 1500 grams for years  
          and often include lightweight aluminum materials.  As  
          California, especially the southern California area, is the home  
          of a large and important Aerospace industry, California's laws  
          should be encouraging this important hobby and AB 467 will do  
          just that."