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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the sale of fireworks during and before the Diwali |
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holiday. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2154.202(g), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(g) Except as provided by Subsection (h), a retail fireworks |
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permit holder may sell fireworks only to the public, and only during |
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periods: |
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(1) beginning June 24 and ending at midnight on July 4; |
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(2) beginning December 20 and ending at midnight on |
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January 1 of the following year; [and] |
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(3) beginning May 1 and ending at midnight on May 5 if |
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the fireworks are sold at a location that is not more than 100 miles |
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from the Texas-Mexico border and that is in a county in which the |
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commissioners court of the county has approved the sale of |
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fireworks during the period; and |
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(4) beginning five days before the first day of Diwali |
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and ending at midnight on the last day of Diwali. |
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SECTION 2. Section 352.051(b)(1), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(1) The Texas A&M Forest Service in the ordinary |
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course of its activities shall determine whether drought |
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conditions, as defined under Subsection (a)(2), exist on average in |
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any county requesting such a determination. The Texas A&M Forest |
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Service shall make available the measurement index guidelines used |
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to determine whether drought conditions exist in a particular area. |
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Following any determination that such drought conditions exist, the |
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Texas A&M Forest Service shall notify said county or counties when |
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such drought conditions no longer exist. The Texas A&M Forest |
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Service shall make its services available each day during the Texas |
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Independence Day, San Jacinto Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, |
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Diwali, and December fireworks seasons to respond to the request of |
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any county for a determination whether drought conditions exist on |
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average in the county. |
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SECTION 3. Section 352.051(d), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(d) To facilitate compliance with an order adopted under |
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Subsection (c), the order must be adopted before: |
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(1) February 15 of each year for the Texas |
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Independence Day fireworks season; |
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(2) April 1 of each year for the San Jacinto Day |
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fireworks season; |
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(3) April 25 of each year for the Cinco de Mayo |
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fireworks season; |
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(4) May 15 of each year for the Memorial Day fireworks |
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season; |
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(5) June 15 of each year for the Fourth of July |
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fireworks season; [and] |
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(6) 15 days before the beginning of Diwali for the |
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Diwali fireworks season; and |
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(7) December 15 of each year for each December |
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fireworks season. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |