Amends the inventory period for a licensee, who provides public displays of fireworks more than once a month, to import and store aerial common fireworks and special fireworks from six-months to twenty-four months. Charges a $100 license fee for public display companies, including public display companies that import and store fireworks. Repeals requirement that the fireworks permit for public display must be obtained not less than twenty days before the date of the display. Clarifies that the fee for permits for public display are in addition to any license fee and that the fee for a permit for public display shall be $110 per event and used for purposes specified in section 132D-11(a).

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. Section 132D-8.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§132D-8.5[]] Importation of aerial common fireworks, special fireworks, or both, for public display. Aerial common fireworks, special fireworks, or both, shall only be imported and stored, if necessary, in an amount sufficient for an anticipated three-month inventory; provided that if a licensee under section 132D-7 provides aerial common fireworks, special fireworks, or both, for public displays as allowed under section 132D-16 more than once a month, the licensee may import or store, if necessary, sufficient aerial common fireworks, special fireworks, or both, for a [six-month] twenty-four month inventory."

SECTION 2. Section 132D-11, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) The fee for the license required under section 132D-7 shall be $3,000 for importers, $2,000 for each wholesaler's site, $1,000 for each storage site, [and] $500 for each retailer's site, and [$110] $100 for [permits for] public display [under section 132D-16] companies, including public display companies that import and store fireworks, for each year or fraction of a year in which the licensee plans to conduct business and shall be payable to the county. The license fees shall be used by each county fire department to pay the salary of an auditor of fireworks records. The auditor shall monitor strict inventory and recordkeeping requirements to ensure that sales of fireworks are made only to license or permit holders under this chapter. The county shall provide an exemption from the fees under this section to nonprofit community groups for importation and storage of fireworks for displays once a year."

SECTION 3. Section 132D-16, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

"(a) Any person desiring to set off, ignite, or discharge aerial common fireworks, special fireworks, or both, for a public display shall apply to, and obtain a permit as required by section 132D-10, from the county [not less than twenty days before the date of the display]. Fees for permits for public display shall be in addition to any license fees. The fee for a permit for public display shall be $110 per event, and shall be used for the purposes specified in section 132D-11(a)."

SECTION 4. This Act does not affect the rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun, before its effective date.

SECTION 5. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.