Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB1443 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb1443
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 1443
8	8	E4, Q4 4lr2629
9	9
10	10	By: Delegates Hornberger, Anderton, Bouchat, Griffith, McComas, Rose, Schmidt,
11	11	and Tomlinson
12	12	Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2024
13	13	Assigned to: Economic Matters
14	14
15	15	A BILL ENTITLED
16	16
17	17	AN ACT concerning 1
18	18
19	19	Consumer and Display Fireworks – Regulation and Tax 2
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of authorizing the sale and possession of certain consumer fireworks, 3
22	22	subject to certain requirements and restrictions; altering certain provisions to 4
23	23	establish that certain provisions authorizing the State Fire Marshal to issue a 5
24	24	certain permit relating to fireworks apply only to certain display fireworks; 6
25	25	establishing a certain sales and use tax rate for certain fireworks; requiring the 7
26	26	revenue from a certain tax to be distributed to certain funds; and generally relating 8
27	27	to consumer and display fireworks. 9
28	28
29	29	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
30	30	Article – Public Safety 11
31	31	Section 1–308, 8–102, 10–101, 10–103, 10–104, and 10–110 12
32	32	Annotated Code of Maryland 13
33	33	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
34	34
35	35	BY adding to 15
36	36	Article – Public Safety 16
37	37	Section 10–102.1 and 10–114 17
38	38	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
39	39	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
40	40
41	41	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 20
42	42	Article – Public Safety 21
43	43	Section 10–109 and 10–111 22
44	44	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
45	45	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 24
46	46
47	47	BY adding to 25
48	48	Article – Tax – General 26 2 HOUSE BILL 1443
49	49
50	50
51	51	Section 2–1302.3 and 11–104(l) 1
52	52	Annotated Code of Maryland 2
53	53	(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 3
54	54
55	55	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4
56	56	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 5
57	57
58	58	Article – Public Safety 6
59	59
60	60	10–101. 7
61	61
62	62	(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 8
63	63
64	64	(b) [(1)] “1.3 G fireworks” means special fireworks: 9
65	65
66	66	(1) designed primarily to produce visible or audible effects by combustion 10
67	67	or explosion[.]; 11
68	68
69	69	[(2) “1.3 G fireworks” includes: 12
70	70
71	71	(i) toy torpedoes, railway torpedoes, firecrackers and salutes that do 13
72	72	not qualify as 1.4 G fireworks, exhibition display pieces, illuminating projectiles, incendiary 14
73	73	projectiles, and incendiary grenades; 15
74	74
75	75	(ii) smoke projectiles or bombs containing expelling charges but 16
76	76	without bursting charges; 17
77	77
78	78	(iii) flash powders in inner units not exceeding 2 ounces each, flash 18
79	79	sheets in interior packages, and flash powder or spreader cartridges containing an amount 19
80	80	not exceeding 72 grains of flash powder each; and 20
81	81
82	82	(iv) flash cartridges consisting of a paper cartridge shell, small arms 21
83	83	primer, and flash composition, not exceeding 180 grains, all assembled in one piece.] 22
84	84
85	85	(2) THAT MEET THE FEDERA L REGULATIONS FOR 1.3 G FIREWORKS; 23
86	86	AND 24
87	87
88	88	(3) THAT COMPLY WITH THE CONSTRUCTION , PERFORMANCE , 25
89	89	COMPOSITION , AND LABELING REQUIRE MENTS ADOPTED BY THE CONSUMER 26
90	90	PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION IN TITLE 16 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL 27
91	91	REGULATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PRACTI CES. 28
92	92
93	93	(c) [(1)] “1.4 G fireworks” means common fireworks: 29
94	94
95	95	(1) designed primarily to produce visible effects by combustion[.]; 30 HOUSE BILL 1443 3
96	96
97	97
98	98
99	99	[(2) “1.4 G fireworks” includes: 1
100	100
101	101	(i) small devices containing less than 2 grains of pyrotechnic 2
102	102	composition designed to produce an audible effect; 3
103	103
104	104	(ii) Roman candles, not exceeding 10 balls, that have a total 4
105	105	pyrotechnic composition not exceeding 20 grams and inside tube diameter not exceeding 5
106	106	3/8 inch; 6
107	107
108	108	(iii) sky rockets with sticks, that have a total pyrotechnic composition 7
109	109	not exceeding 20 grams and an inside tube diameter not exceeding 1/2 inch; 8
110	110
111	111	(iv) helicopter–type rockets that have a total pyrotechnic composition 9
112	112	not exceeding 20 grams and an inside tube diameter not exceeding 1/2 inch; 10
113	113
114	114	(v) wheels that have a total pyrotechnic composition not exceeding 11
115	115	60 grams for each driver unit or 240 grams for each wheel and an inside tube diameter of 12
116	116	driver units not exceeding 1/2 inch; 13
117	117
118	118	(vi) illuminating torches and colored fire in any form that have a total 14
119	119	pyrotechnic composition not exceeding 100 grams each; 15
120	120
121	121	(vii) dipped sticks that have a pyrotechnic composition containing any 16
122	122	perchlorate not exceeding 5 grams; 17
123	123
124	124	(viii) mines or shells in which the mortar is an integral part, that have 18
125	125	a total pyrotechnic composition not exceeding 40 grams; 19
126	126
127	127	(ix) firecrackers or salutes with casings that have a total pyrotechnic 20
128	128	composition not exceeding 2 grains each and external dimensions not exceeding 1 1/2 inches 21
129	129	in length or 1/4 inch in diameter; and 22
130	130
131	131	(x) novelties that consist of two or more 1.4 G fireworks.] 23
132	132
133	133	(2) THAT MEET THE FEDERA L REGULATIONS FOR 1.4 G FIREWORKS; 24
134	134	AND 25
135	135
136	136	(3) THAT COMPLY WITH THE CONSTRUCTION , PERFORMANCE , AND 26
137	137	LABELING REQUIREMENT S ADOPTED BY THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY 27
138	138	COMMISSION IN TITLE 16 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS RELATING TO 28
139	139	COMMERCIAL PRACTICES . 29
140	140
141	141	(D) “APA 87–1” MEANS THE AMERICAN PYROTECHNICS ASSOCIATION 30
142	142	STANDARD 87–1: “STANDARD FOR CONSTRUCTION AND APPROVAL FOR 31
143	143	TRANSPORTATION OF FIREWORKS, NOVELTIES, AND THEATRICAL 32 4 HOUSE BILL 1443
144	144
145	145
146	146	PYROTECHNICS ”, 2001 EDITION, OR ANY SUBSEQUENT ED ITION. 1
147	147
148	148	(E) “CONSUMER FIREWORKS ” MEANS ANY CO MBUSTIBLE OR EXPLOSI VE 2
149	149	COMPOSITION OR ANY S UBSTANCE OR COMBINAT ION OF SUBSTANCES TH AT: 3
150	150
151	151	(1) IS INTENDED TO PRODU CE VISIBLE OR AUDIBL E EFFECTS BY 4
152	152	COMBUSTION ; 5
153	153
154	154	(2) IS SUITABLE FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC; 6
155	155
156	156	(3) COMPLIES WITH THE CO NSTRUCTION, PERFORMANCE , 7
157	157	COMPOSITION , AND LABELING REQUIRE MENTS ADOPTED BY THE CONSUMER 8
158	158	PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION IN TITLE 16 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL 9
159	159	REGULATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL PRACTI CES; AND 10
160	160
161	161	(4) COMPLIES WITH THE PR OVISIONS FOR “CONSUMER FIREWORKS ” 11
162	162	AS DEFINED IN APA 87–1 OR ANY SUCCESSOR STA NDARD. 12
163	163
164	164	(F) (1) “DISPLAY FIREWORKS ” MEANS LARGE FIREWORK S TO BE USED 13
165	165	SOLELY BY PROFESSION AL PYROTECHNICIANS A ND DESIGNED PRIMARIL Y TO 14
166	166	PRODUCE VISIBLE OR A UDIBLE EFFECTS BY CO MBUSTION, DEFLAGRATION , OR 15
167	167	DETONATION . 16
168	168
169	169	(2) “DISPLAY FIREWORKS” INCLUDES: 17
170	170
171	171	(I) SALUTES THAT CONTAIN MORE THAN 2 GRAINS OR 130 18
172	172	MILLIGRAMS OF EXPLOS IVE MATERIALS; 19
173	173
174	174	(II) AERIAL SHELLS CONTAI NING MORE THAN 60 GRAMS OF 20
175	175	PYROTECHNIC COMPOSIT IONS; AND 21
176	176
177	177	(III) OTHER DISPLAY PIECES THAT EXCEED THE LIMI TS OF 22
178	178	EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS FOR CLASSIFICATION A S CONSUMER FIREWORKS AND ARE 23
179	179	CLASSIFIED AS FIREWO RKS UN0333, UN0334, OR UN0335 UNDER TITLE 49, § 24
180	180	172.101 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, RELATING TO THE PURPOSE 25
181	181	AND USE OF THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TABLE . 26
182	182
183	183	[(d)] (G) “Explosive composition” means a mixture or substance that, when 27
184	184	ignited, may cause such a generation of highly heated gases that the resulting gaseous 28
185	185	pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects. 29
186	186
187	187	[(e)] (H) “Finishing and assembling building” means a structure in which 30
188	188	fireworks are assembled and packed but are not mixed or pressed. 31
189	189	HOUSE BILL 1443 5
190	190
191	191
192	192	[(f)] (I) (1) [“Fireworks” means combustible, implosive or explosive 1
193	193	compositions, substances, combinations of substances, or articles that are prepared to 2
194	194	produce a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, implosion, deflagration, or 3
195	195	detonation. 4
196	196
197	197	(2)] “Fireworks” includes 1.3 G fireworks, 1.4 G fireworks, [firecrackers, 5
198	198	squibs, rockets, Roman candles, fire balloons, and signal lights] CONSUMER FIREWORKS , 6
199	199	AND DISPLAY FIREWORK S. 7
200	200
201	201	[(3)] (2) “Fireworks” does not include: 8
202	202
203	203	(i) toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns, or other devices that use paper 9
204	204	caps that contain 0.25 grains or less of explosive composition if the devices are constructed 10
205	205	so that a hand cannot touch the cap when the cap is in place for use; 11
206	206
207	207	(ii) toy pistol paper caps that contain less than 0.20 grains of 12
208	208	explosive composition; 13
209	209
210	210	(iii) sparklers that do not contain chlorates or perchlorates; 14
211	211
212	212	(iv) ground–based sparkling devices that are nonaerial and 15
213	213	nonexplosive, and are labeled in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Consumer 16
214	214	Product Safety Commission; 17
215	215
216	216	(v) paper wrapped snappers that contain less than 0.03 grains of 18
217	217	explosive composition; or 19
218	218
219	219	(vi) ash–producing pellets known as “snakes” that do not contain 20
220	220	mercury and are not regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 21
221	221
222	222	[(g)] (J) (1) “Fireworks plant” means land and any building on the land used 22
223	223	in connection with the manufacture, packaging, repackaging, or processing of fireworks. 23
224	224
225	225	(2) “Fireworks plant” includes a storage building used in connection with 24
226	226	plant operation. 25
227	227
228	228	[(h)] (K) “Mixing building” means a building primarily used to mix and blend 26
229	229	pyrotechnic composition other than wet sparkler mixes. 27
230	230
231	231	[(i)] (L) “Press building” means a building used primarily for pressing or 28
232	232	loading pyrotechnic composition into tubes or containers. 29
233	233
234	234	[(j)] (M) “Pyrotechnic composition” means a chemical mixture that on burning 30
235	235	and without explosion produces visible or brilliant displays, bright lights, or whistles. 31
236	236
237	237	[(k)] (N) “Storage building” means a structure in which finished fireworks or 32 6 HOUSE BILL 1443
238	238
239	239
240	240	fireworks in any state of processing are stored, but in which processing or manufacturing 1
241	241	is not performed. 2
242	242
243	243	10–102.1. 3
244	244
245	245	(A) A PERSON WHO IS AT LEA ST 18 YEARS OLD AND MEETS THE 4
246	246	REQUIREMENTS OF THIS TITLE MAY PURCHASE , POSSESS, AND USE CONSUMER 5
247	247	FIREWORKS. 6
248	248
249	249	(B) A PERSON MAY NOT INTEN TIONALLY IGNITE OR D ISCHARGE CONSUM ER 7
250	250	FIREWORKS: 8
251	251
252	252	(1) ON PUBLIC PROPERTY O R ON PRIVATE PROPERT Y WITHOUT THE 9
253	253	EXPRESS PERMISSION O F THE OWNER; 10
254	254
255	255	(2) WITHIN, INTO, AT, OR FROM A MOTOR VEHI CLE, A WATERCRAFT , 11
256	256	AN AIRCRAFT, AN UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM, OR A BUILDING; 12
257	257
258	258	(3) AT ANOTHER PERSON ; 13
259	259
260	260	(4) WHILE THE PERSON IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL , A 14
261	261	CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE , OR ANOTHER DRUG ; OR 15
262	262
263	263	(5) WITHIN 300 FEET OF A STRUCTURE . 16
264	264
265	265	(C) THIS SECTION MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO REGU LATE THE SALE , 17
266	266	POSSESSION, OR USE OF ANY OF THE DEVICES LISTED IN § 10–101(I)(2) OF THIS 18
267	267	SUBTITLE. 19
268	268
269	269	10–103. 20
270	270
271	271	(a) Subject to subsections (b) and (c) of this section, the State Fire Marshal may 21
272	272	issue a permit to authorize the discharge of DISPLAY fireworks in a place where the 22
273	273	discharge of DISPLAY fireworks is legal. 23
274	274
275	275	(b) The State Fire Marshal shall issue a permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks 24
276	276	only if the State Fire Marshal determines that the proposed discharge of fireworks will: 25
277	277
278	278	(1) not endanger health or safety or damage property; and 26
279	279
280	280	(2) be supervised by an experienced and qualified person who has 27
281	281	previously secured written authority from the State Fire Marshal to discharge fireworks. 28
282	282
283	283	(c) A permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks: 29
284	284	HOUSE BILL 1443 7
285	285
286	286
287	287	(1) does not authorize the holder of the permit to possess or discharge 1
288	288	fireworks in violation of an ordinance or regulation of the political subdivision where the 2
289	289	fireworks are to be discharged; and 3
290	290
291	291	(2) does not relieve an applicant for a permit from any requirement to 4
292	292	obtain any additional license or authority from the governing body of the political 5
293	293	subdivision where the fireworks are to be discharged. 6
294	294
295	295	10–104. 7
296	296
297	297	(a) A person must have a permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks as provided by 8
298	298	this subtitle before the person: 9
299	299
300	300	(1) discharges DISPLAY fireworks; or 10
301	301
302	302	(2) possesses DISPLAY fireworks with the intent to discharge DISPLAY 11
303	303	fireworks or to allow the discharge of DISPLAY fireworks. 12
304	304
305	305	(b) An applicant for a permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks shall: 13
306	306
307	307	(1) apply to the State Fire Marshal for the permit at least 10 days before 14
308	308	the date of discharge; 15
309	309
310	310	(2) pay to the State Fire Marshal a permit fee of $50; and 16
311	311
312	312	(3) post a bond with the State Fire Marshal in accordance with § 10–105 of 17
313	313	this subtitle. 18
314	314
315	315	(c) If the State Fire Marshal does not receive the application for a permit required 19
316	316	under subsection (b) of this section at least 10 days before the date of the discharge, the 20
317	317	State Fire Marshal shall charge the applicant a late fee of $50 in addition to all required 21
318	318	fees. 22
319	319
320	320	(d) The permit fee required under subsection (b)(2) of this section and the late fee 23
321	321	required under subsection (c) of this section do not apply to a volunteer fire department or 24
322	322	volunteer ambulance and rescue company. 25
323	323
324	324	(e) A permit to discharge DISPLAY fireworks is nontransferable. 26
325	325
326	326	10–109. 27
327	327
328	328	The State Fire Prevention Commission shall adopt regulations to carry out this 28
329	329	subtitle. 29
330	330
331	331	10–110. 30
332	332	8 HOUSE BILL 1443
333	333
334	334
335	335	(a) Unless the person holds a permit issued under this subtitle, a person may not: 1
336	336
337	337	(1) discharge DISPLAY fireworks; or 2
338	338
339	339	(2) possess DISPLAY fireworks: 3
340	340
341	341	(i) with intent to discharge or allow the discharge of the DISPLAY 4
342	342	fireworks in violation of this subtitle; or 5
343	343
344	344	(ii) for the purpose of disposing or selling the DISPLAY fireworks to 6
345	345	a person for use or discharge without a permit, if a permit is required by this subtitle. 7
346	346
347	347	(b) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a person may not sell 8
348	348	DISPLAY fireworks to another person without a permit issued under this subtitle. 9
349	349
350	350	(2) (i) A person licensed by the State Fire Marshal under Subtitle 2 of 10
351	351	this title may sell or deliver fireworks to a bona fide distributor, jobber, or wholesaler with 11
352	352	a principal place of business in a state where the sale or possession of fireworks is allowed. 12
353	353
354	354	(ii) The State Fire Marshal may require a person who is an 13
355	355	out–of–state distributor, jobber, or wholesaler to submit a certificate issued by the person’s 14
356	356	state of operation that demonstrates authority to buy and receive fireworks. 15
357	357
358	358	10–111. 16
359	359
360	360	(a) A person who possesses or discharges fireworks in violation of this subtitle is 17
361	361	guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $250 for each 18
362	362	offense. 19
363	363
364	364	(b) A person who sells fireworks in violation of this subtitle is guilty of a 20
365	365	misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 for each offense. 21
366	366
367	367	(c) (1) At the expense of the owner, the State Fire Marshal shall seize and 22
368	368	remove all fireworks possessed or sold in violation of this subtitle. 23
369	369
370	370	(2) Fireworks described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be 24
371	371	forfeited and destroyed. 25
372	372
373	373	10–114. 26
374	374
375	375	(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, CONSUMER 27
376	376	FIREWORKS MAY BE SOL D ONLY FROM A STAND –ALONE PERMANENT STRU CTURE 28
377	377	THAT: 29
378	378
379	379	(1) IS LICENSED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL; 30
380	380	HOUSE BILL 1443 9
381	381
382	382
383	383	(2) HAS A STORAGE AREA T HAT IS SEPARATED FRO M WHOLESALE OR 1
384	384	RETAIL SALES AREAS T O WHICH A PURCHASER MAY BE ADMITTED BY 2
385	385	APPROPRIATELY RATED FIRE SEPARATION ; 3
386	386
387	387	(3) IS LOCATED AT LEAST 250 FEET FROM ANY FACILI TY THAT 4
388	388	STORES, SELLS, OR DISPENSES GASOLIN E, PROPANE, OR OTHER FLAMMABLE 5
389	389	PRODUCTS; 6
390	390
391	391	(4) IS LOCATED AT LEAST 1,500 FEET FROM ANY OTHER FACILITY 7
392	392	LICENSED TO SELL CON SUMER FIREWORKS ; 8
393	393
394	394	(5) HAS A MONITORED BURG LAR AND FIRE ALARM S YSTEM; AND 9
395	395
396	396	(6) CONDUCTS QUARTERLY FIRE DRILLS AND PREP LANNING 10
397	397	MEETINGS AS REQUIRED BY THE PRIMARY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE JU RISDICTION 11
398	398	OF THE FACILITY. 12
399	399
400	400	(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , CONSUMER 13
401	401	FIREWORKS MAY BE SOL D FROM A TEMPORARY S TRUCTURE IF THE TEMP ORARY 14
402	402	STRUCTURE: 15
403	403
404	404	(I) IS LICENSED BY THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL; 16
405	405
406	406	(II) IS LOCATED AT LEAST 250 FEET FROM ANY FACILI TY THAT 17
407	407	STORES, SELLS, OR DISPENSES GASOLIN E, PROPANE, OR OTHER FLAMMABLE 18
408	408	PRODUCTS; 19
409	409
410	410	(III) HAS AN EVACUATION PL AN POSTED IN A CONSP ICUOUS 20
411	411	LOCATION FOR A TEMPORARY STRUCTUR E IN ACCORDANCE WITH NFPA 1124; 21
412	412
413	413	(IV) IF IT HAS AN OUTDOOR STORAGE UNIT , HAS THE UNIT 22
414	414	SEPARATED FROM THE W HOLESALE OR RETAIL S ALES AREA TO WHICH A 23
415	415	PURCHASER MAY BE ADM ITTED BY APPROPRIATE LY RATED FIRE SEPARA TION; 24
416	416
417	417	(V) COMPLIES WIT H NFPA 1124 AS IT RELATES TO RET AIL 25
418	418	SALES OF CONSUMER FI REWORKS IN TEMPORARY STRUCTURES ; 26
419	419
420	420	(VI) IS LOCATED AT LEAST 2 MILES FROM ANY PERMA NENT 27
421	421	FACILITY LICENSED TO SELL CONSUMER FIREWO RKS; 28
422	422
423	423	(VII) DOES NOT EXCEED 2,500 SQUARE FEET; 29
424	424
425	425	(VIII) IS SECURED AT ALL TIMES DURIN G WHICH CONSUMER 30 10 HOUSE BILL 1443
426	426
427	427
428	428	FIREWORKS ARE DISPLA YED WITHIN THE STRUC TURE; 1
429	429
430	430	(IX) HAS A MINIMUM OF $2,000,000 IN PUBLIC AND PRODUC T 2
431	431	LIABILITY INSURANCE ; 3
432	432
433	433	(X) HAS A SALES PERIOD L IMITED TO JUNE 15 THROUGH JULY 4
434	434	8 AND DECEMBER 21 THROUGH JANUARY 2 EACH YEAR; AND 5
435	435
436	436	(XI) STORES CONSUMER FIRE WORKS NOT ON DISPLAY FOR 6
437	437	RETAIL SALE IN AN OU TDOOR STORAGE UNIT . 7
438	438
439	439	(2) THE SALE OF CONSUMER FIREWORKS FROM A TEM PORARY 8
440	440	STRUCTURE IS LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING : 9
441	441
442	442	(I) HELICOPTER, AERIAL SPINNER (APA 87–1, 3.1.2.3); 10
443	443
444	444	(II) ROMAN CANDLE (APA 87–1, 3.1.2.4); AND 11
445	445
446	446	(III) MINE AND SHELL DEVIC ES NOT EXCEEDING 500 GRAMS. 12
447	447
448	448	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 13
449	449	as follows: 14
450	450
451	451	Article – Public Safety 15
452	452
453	453	1–308. 16
454	454
455	455	(a) There is a 9–1–1 Trust Fund. 17
456	456
457	457	(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subject to § 18
458	458	1–309.1 of this subtitle, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund are to: 19
459	459
460	460	(i) reimburse counties for the cost of enhancing a 9–1–1 system; 20
461	461
462	462	(ii) pay contractors in accordance with § 1–306(b)(12) of this subtitle; 21
463	463	and 22
464	464
465	465	(iii) fund the coordinator position and staff to handle the increased 23
466	466	duties related to wireless enhanced 9–1–1 service under § 1–305 of this subtitle, as an 24
467	467	administrative cost. 25
468	468
469	469	(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, in addition to the purposes 26
470	470	described under paragraph (1) of this subsection, the purposes of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund 27
471	471	include funding: 28
472	472	HOUSE BILL 1443 11
473	473
474	474
475	475	(i) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 1
476	476	9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including: 2
477	477
478	478	1. equipment and software utilized directly for providing 3
479	479	9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point; 4
480	480
481	481	2. protocol systems and software utilized directly for 5
482	482	providing 9–1–1 services by a public safety answering point; 6
483	483
484	484	3. interpretation services provided for a public safety 7
485	485	answering point; 8
486	486
487	487	4. services provided for a public safety answering point to 9
488	488	ensure improved access to individuals with disabilities and other individuals who use 10
489	489	assistive technology; and 11
490	490
491	491	5. voice, data, and call log recorders utilized to capture 12
492	492	information from 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 13
493	493	services; 14
494	494
495	495	(ii) the operation and maintenance of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 15
496	496	9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services connectivity and infrastructure 16
497	497	equipment, including: 17
498	498
499	499	1. automatic number and location identification; and 18
500	500
501	501	2. Primary Rate Interface and Session Initiation Protocol 19
502	502	trunking for 10–digit emergency and nonemergency lines; 20
503	503
504	504	(iii) geographical information systems hardware, software, data 21
505	505	development, and data management costs incurred for the effective operation of 9–1–1 22
506	506	systems, enhanced 9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services, including: 23
507	507
508	508	1. mapping equipment; 24
509	509
510	510	2. interfaces to computer–aided dispatch; and 25
511	511
512	512	3. geographical information systems base layer development 26
513	513	and management; 27
514	514
515	515	(iv) public safety answering point facilities costs, including access 28
516	516	control, security systems, and standby power; 29
517	517
518	518	(v) costs for public education materials; 30
519	519
520	520	(vi) the training of county personnel working in or directly 31
521	521	supporting a public safety answering point; 32 12 HOUSE BILL 1443
522	522
523	523
524	524
525	525	(vii) the provision of tuition reimbursement for 9–1–1 specialists for 1
526	526	educational programs related to the 9–1–1 specialist career field; 2
527	527
528	528	(viii) costs to maintain the cybersecurity of 9–1–1 systems, enhanced 3
529	529	9–1–1 systems, and Next Generation 9–1–1 services; and 4
530	530
531	531	(ix) costs of 9–1–1 specialist recruitment activities as described in § 5
532	532	1–306(b)(17) of this subtitle. 6
533	533
534	534	(3) Funding allocated in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection 7
535	535	may not be utilized for: 8
536	536
537	537	(i) the payment of the salary of public safety answering point 9
538	538	personnel or county personnel; or 10
539	539
540	540	(ii) any purpose associated with the 9–8–8 suicide prevention 11
541	541	hotline. 12
542	542
543	543	(c) The 9–1–1 Trust Fund consists of: 13
544	544
545	545	(1) money from the 9–1–1 fee collected and remitted to the Comptroller 14
546	546	under § 1–310 of this subtitle; 15
547	547
548	548	(2) money from the additional charge collected and remitted to the 16
549	549	Comptroller under § 1–311 of this subtitle; 17
550	550
551	551	(3) money from the prepaid wireless E 9–1–1 fee collected and remitted to 18
552	552	the Comptroller under § 1–313 of this subtitle; 19
553	553
554	554	(4) MONEY DISTRIBUTED TO THE FUND FROM THE CONSUME R 20
555	555	FIREWORKS T AX UNDER §§ 2–1302.3 AND 11–104 OF THE TAX – GENERAL ARTICLE; 21
556	556	and 22
557	557
558	558	[(4)] (5) investment earnings of the 9–1–1 Trust Fund. 23
559	559
560	560	(d) Money in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund shall be held in the State Treasury. 24
561	561
562	562	(e) The Secretary shall administer the 9–1–1 Trust Fund, subject to the 25
563	563	guidelines for financial management and budgeting established by the Department of 26
564	564	Budget and Management. 27
565	565
566	566	(f) The Secretary shall direct the Comptroller to establish separate accounts in 28
567	567	the 9–1–1 Trust Fund for the payment of administrative expenses and for each county. 29
568	568
569	569	(g) (1) Any investment earnings shall be credited to the 9–1–1 Trust Fund. 30
570	570	HOUSE BILL 1443 13
571	571
572	572
573	573	(2) The Comptroller shall allocate the investment income among the 1
574	574	accounts in the 9–1–1 Trust Fund, prorated on the basis of the total fees collected in each 2
575	575	county. 3
576	576
577	577	8–102. 4
578	578
579	579	(a) There is a Senator William H. Amoss Fire, Rescue, and Ambulance Fund. 5
580	580
581	581	(b) The purposes of the Fund are to promote: 6
582	582
583	583	(1) the delivery of effective and high quality fire protection, rescue, and 7
584	584	ambulance services in the State; 8
585	585
586	586	(2) increased financial support for fire, rescue, and ambulance companies 9
587	587	by counties; and 10
588	588
589	589	(3) the continued financial viability of volunteer fire, rescue, and 11
590	590	ambulance companies given the greatly increased costs of equipment. 12
591	591
592	592	(c) (1) The Secretary shall administer the Fund. 13
593	593
594	594	(2) Subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Secretary may adopt 14
595	595	procedures to carry out this subtitle, including additional auditing and reporting 15
596	596	requirements. 16
597	597
598	598	(3) The Secretary may not impose training or operational requirements as 17
599	599	a precondition to receipt of money, except as otherwise expressly provided in this subtitle. 18
600	600
601	601	(d) The Fund consists of: 19
602	602
603	603	(1) money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; 20
604	604
605	605	(2) MONEY DISTRIBUTED TO THE FUND FROM THE CONSUMER 21
606	606	FIREWORKS TAX UNDER §§ 2–1302.3 AND 11–104 OF THE TAX – GENERAL ARTICLE; 22
607	607	and 23
608	608
609	609	[(2)] (3) revenue distributed to the Fund under § 16–609 of the Business 24
610	610	Regulation Article. 25
611	611
612	612	(e) (1) As authorized by the Secretary, the Treasurer shall make payments out 26
613	613	of the Fund to each county on warrant of the Comptroller. 27
614	614
615	615	(2) The Treasurer shall make the payments required under this subsection 28
616	616	to the appropriate county on or about November 15. 29
617	617
618	618	(f) (1) State money provided under this section may only be used to: 30
619	619	14 HOUSE BILL 1443
620	620
621	621
622	622	(i) acquire or rehabilitate fire or rescue equipment, including 1
623	623	ambulances; 2
624	624
625	625	(ii) acquire or rehabilitate capital equipment used in connection with 3
626	626	fire or rescue equipment; 4
627	627
628	628	(iii) rehabilitate facilities used primarily to house fire fighting 5
629	629	equipment, ambulances, and rescue vehicles; 6
630	630
631	631	(iv) install life safety and fire protection systems at a fire, rescue, or 7
632	632	ambulance facility; 8
633	633
634	634	(v) acquire land for the purpose of rehabilitation or construction of a 9
635	635	fire, rescue, or ambulance facility; 10
636	636
637	637	(vi) acquire wireless telecommunications devices, computers, and 11
638	638	related computer equipment if used exclusively for fire protection, rescue, and ambulance 12
639	639	services; and 13
640	640
641	641	(vii) acquire machinery and equipment if used exclusively for fire 14
642	642	protection, rescue, and ambulance services. 15
643	643
644	644	(2) State money provided under this section may not be used: 16
645	645
646	646	(i) for administrative costs; 17
647	647
648	648	(ii) for compensation or fringe benefits to employees or members of 18
649	649	county governments, or fire, rescue, or ambulance companies; 19
650	650
651	651	(iii) for travel or meal expenses; 20
652	652
653	653	(iv) for fuel, utility, or routine maintenance costs of facilities or 21
654	654	equipment; 22
655	655
656	656	(v) to acquire new or replacement fire hydrants or water mains; 23
657	657
658	658	(vi) for insurance; 24
659	659
660	660	(vii) for fund–raising activities; 25
661	661
662	662	(viii) to replace or repair eligible items to the extent that insurance 26
663	663	proceeds are available; 27
664	664
665	665	(ix) for costs associated with the “9–1–1” emergency telephone 28
666	666	system; or 29
667	667
668	668	(x) for land or interests in land, except as provided in paragraph 30 HOUSE BILL 1443 15
669	669
670	670
671	671	(1)(v) of this subsection. 1
672	672
673	673	Article – Tax – General 2
674	674
675	675	2–1302.3. 3
676	676
677	677	AFTER MAKING THE DIST RIBUTIONS REQUIRED U NDER §§ 2–1301 THROUGH 4
678	678	2–1302.2 OF THIS SUBTITLE , OF THE SALES AND USE TAX COLLECTED UN DER § 5
679	679	11–104(L) OF THIS ARTICLE FROM THE SALE OF CONSUMER FIREWORKS, AS 6
680	680	DEFINED IN § 10–101 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE, THE COMPTROLLER 7
681	681	QUARTERLY SHALL DIST RIBUTE: 8
682	682
683	683	(1) 31% TO THE 9–1–1 TRUST FUND UNDER § 1–308 OF THE PUBLIC 9
684	684	SAFETY ARTICLE; 10
685	685
686	686	(2) 31% TO THE SENATOR WILLIAM H. AMOSS FIRE, RESCUE, AND 11
687	687	AMBULANCE FUND UNDER § 8–102 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE; AND 12
688	688
689	689	(3) 38% TO THE GENERAL FUND OF THE STATE. 13
690	690
691	691	11–104. 14
692	692
693	693	(L) THE SALES AND USE TAX RATE FOR CONSUMER FI REWORKS, AS 15
694	694	DEFINED IN § 10–101 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE, IS, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 16
695	695	AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , 16%. 17
696	696
697	697	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 18
698	698	October 1, 2024. 19