BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     AB 467


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          CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS


          AB  
          467 (Chang)


          As Amended  June 3, 2015


          Majority vote


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          |ASSEMBLY:  |78-0  |(April 23,     |SENATE: |37-0  |(June 25, 2015)  |
          |           |      |2015)          |        |      |                 |
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          |           |      |               |        |      |                 |
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          Original Committee Reference:  G.O.


          SUMMARY:  Conforms California law to federal law by increasing  
          the maximum legal weight of a "model rocket" from 500 to 1,500  
          grams.  Specifically 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 National Fire Prevention Association  
            (NFPA) "NFPA 1122:  Code for model Rocketry," or a more recent  
            edition as adopted by the State Fire Marshal (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.








                                                                     AB 467


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


          The Senate amendments:


          1)Change all references in statute to model rocket engines to  
            instead refer to model rocket motors.


          2)Make technical changes.


          EXISTING LAW:  


          1)Authorizes the 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  
            jurisdiction.








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          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.


          AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill as amended in the Senate is  
          consistent with Assembly actions.  This bill increased the  
          maximum weight of a "model rocket" from 500 to 1,500 grams  
          (including the engine and payload) in provisions of law  
          regulating fireworks and pyrotechnic devices.  Makes a change to  
          the definition of "model rocket" and "model rocket engine" to  
          conform federal regulatory definitions and NFPA standards.  


          FISCAL EFFECT:  According to the Senate Appropriations  
          Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.


          COMMENTS:  


          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 do not apply  
          to students in other states.








                                                                     AB 467


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          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.


          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."










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          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."


          In opposition: None 


          Related Legislation:  SB 677 (Mendoza) of 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)


          Analysis Prepared by:                                             
                          Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531  FN:  
          0001088