BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 467|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
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CONSENT
Bill No: AB 467
Author: Chang (R)
Amended: 6/3/15 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE: 13-0, 6/9/15
AYES: Hall, Berryhill, Block, Gaines, Galgiani, Glazer,
Hernandez, Hill, Hueso, Lara, McGuire, Runner, Vidak
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 4/23/15 (Consent) - See last page for
vote
SUBJECT: Pyrotechnic devices: model rockets
SOURCE: Author
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 Marshal (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
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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
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 increases 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
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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
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.
Related Legislation
SB 677 (Mendoza, 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
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governing fireworks sales and disposals. (Failed passage in the
Senate Governmental Organization Committee)
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: Yes Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 6/22/15)
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
OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/22/15)
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."
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ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 4/23/15
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom,
Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Chang, Chau,
Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly,
Dodd, Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina
Garcia, Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gonzalez,
Gordon, Gray, Grove, Hadley, Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden,
Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder,
Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina,
Melendez, Mullin, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Olsen,
Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez,
Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner,
Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams, Wood, Atkins
NO VOTE RECORDED: Campos, Salas
Prepared by:Felipe Lopez / G.O. / (916) 651-1530
6/23/15 8:57:24
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