LRB-2001/1
RNK:lmk:nwn
2007 - 2008 LEGISLATURE
May 31, 2007 - Introduced by Representatives Kerkman, Steinbrink, Albers,
Lothian, Zepnick
and A. Ott, cosponsored by Senators Olsen and Hansen.
Referred to Committee on Tourism, Recreation and State Properties.
AB380,1,12 1An Act to repeal 167.10 (3) (c) 1. to 7. and 167.10 (3) (g); to renumber 167.10
2(7); to renumber and amend 167.10 (3) (a), 167.10 (3) (c) (intro.) and 167.10
3(3) (d); to amend 20.143 (3) (j), 167.10 (2) (intro.), 167.10 (2) (a), 167.10 (2) (b),
4167.10 (2) (c), 167.10 (3) (title), 167.10 (3) (e), 167.10 (3) (f) (intro.) and 4., 167.10
5(3) (h), 167.10 (4), 167.10 (8) (a) and (b) and 167.10 (9) (b); to repeal and
6recreate
167.10 (7) (title); and to create 167.10 (2m), 167.10 (3) (a) 2. to 6.,
7167.10 (3) (b) 1m., 167.10 (3) (em), 167.10 (3m), 167.10 (7) (b), 167.10 (9) (bm),
8167.10 (9) (bs) and 167.10 (9) (j) of the statutes; relating to: the sale of
9fireworks; fireworks permits and displays; shipping fireworks; fireworks
10wholesalers licenses; disposition of seized fireworks; fireworks enforcement;
11granting rule-making authority; making an appropriation; and providing a
12penalty.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
With limited exceptions, current law prohibits the sale of regulated fireworks
to any person who does not hold a fireworks user's permit issued by the city, village,

or town (municipality) in which the possession or use of the fireworks will occur.
Currently, only a public authority, fair association, amusement park, park board,
civic organization, agricultural producer (for the protection of crops from predatory
birds or animals), or group of resident or nonresident individuals may obtain a
fireworks user's permit. One current exception to the fireworks user's permit
requirement authorizes a resident wholesaler to sell regulated fireworks "to a person
outside of this state," even if the person does not hold a permit. In State v. Victory
Fireworks, Inc.
, 230 Wis. 2d 721 (Ct. App. 1999), the court of appeals held that this
exception permits a sale only to a person who is physically located outside of this
state.
Current law authorizes the mayor, president, or chairperson of a municipality,
or other designated municipal official or employee, to issue a fireworks user's permit.
The municipality may require a person obtaining a fireworks user's permit to take
out an indemnity bond or liability insurance policy for payment of any claims that
may arise from the use of the fireworks. Under current law, a fire or law enforcement
official of the municipality must be given a copy of a fireworks user's permit at least
two days before the date of use authorized in the permit.
Under current law, a law enforcement officer may seize fireworks from a person
who violates the fireworks laws. Current law also sets forth procedures that
generally must be followed for the return of seized property. Among those procedures
is a hearing requirement to determine ownership of the property. Currently, seized
fireworks are generally exempt from these procedures. Instead, fireworks seized as
evidence of a violation for which no conviction results must be returned to the owner
in the same condition as when they were seized, to the extent practicable. In
addition, only the fireworks that are the subject of a violation may be destroyed after
conviction of a fireworks violation.
Currently, a person who violates a state law or local ordinance pertaining to the
sale, possession, use, or storage of fireworks is subject to a forfeiture of not more than
$1,000. In addition, a municipality may petition the circuit court for an order
enjoining violations of these fireworks laws or a local ordinance pertaining to
fireworks. A person who violates such a court order is subject to a fine of not more
than $10,000 or imprisonment of not more than nine months, or both.
This bill makes numerous changes to the laws governing fireworks. Significant
changes include the following:
Fireworks user's permits and fireworks displays
This bill generally repeals the current law with regard to fireworks user's
permits, including the list of entities to whom such a permit may be issued, and
instead specifies that, with limited exceptions, fireworks may be sold only to a person
who holds a fireworks display permit issued by the municipality in which the
fireworks display will occur. A person may obtain a fireworks display permit only
for the purpose of conducting a fireworks display and only if statutory requirements
are met. The bill specifies that all outdoor displays must meet certain National Fire
Protection Association standards. The bill retains the provision that allows a
municipality to issue a fireworks user's permit to an agricultural producer for the use

of fireworks for crop protection and exempts agricultural producers from most of the
permit requirements that apply to fireworks display permits.
The bill specifies that a person must obtain a fireworks display permit directly
from the municipality that issues the permit and requires the municipal official or
employee who issues a fireworks permit to do so at a location where he or she, in the
normal course of municipal affairs, carries out his or her official responsibilities or
duties. The bill requires an application for a permit to identify a person certified by
the Pyrotechnics Guild International who will be responsible for supervising the
display. Under the bill, a municipality must require the person obtaining a fireworks
display permit to take out an indemnity bond or liability insurance policy in the name
of the municipality for payment of any claims that may arise from the fireworks
display.
The bill also includes requirements relating to fire protection. The bill specifies
that the chief of a fire department providing fire protection services to the
municipality issuing a fireworks display permit must approve and sign the permit
before it is issued. The bill further specifies that a fireworks display permit may not
be issued unless: (a) the chief of the fire department or a fire official designated by
the chief has conducted an on-site inspection of the area where the fireworks are
proposed to be displayed; (b) the person conducting the inspection determines that
the proposed display does not pose a danger to public safety; and (c) the person
conducting the inspection determines that there are adequate plans in place for fire
protection and crowd control for the proposed display.
Fireworks wholesalers
The bill contains several provisions regulating the sale of fireworks by
wholesalers. Under the bill, no person may sell fireworks at wholesale without a
fireworks wholesale license from the Department of Commerce (department). The
bill directs the department to promulgate rules governing the licensing of fireworks
wholesalers.
The bill allows a licensed fireworks wholesaler to sell fireworks to any person
otherwise authorized to purchase fireworks, to another licensed fireworks
wholesaler, or to a person who is registered with the department as a person engaged
in the legal retail or wholesale sale of fireworks. The bill also codifies the decision
of the court in State v. Victory Fireworks, Inc., and provides that a licensed wholesaler
may sell fireworks to any person who is physically located outside of this state at the
time the sale is made, even though the person does not hold a permit. In addition,
if a licensed wholesaler ships fireworks, the fireworks must be transported by
common motor carrier, a licensed fireworks wholesaler, or a person registered with
the department to purchase fireworks at wholesale. The bill requires a fireworks
wholesaler to maintain a specified record of each sale of fireworks for five years.
Under the bill, the department must promulgate certain rules providing for
annual registration of persons who wish to purchase fireworks at wholesale in this
state.
Penalties and enforcement
The bill makes the following changes to the penalty and enforcement provisions
in the fireworks law:

1. Authorizes the appropriate district attorney to petition the circuit court for
an order enjoining the violation.
2. Provides that the district attorney, the county's corporation counsel, or the
attorney general may enforce an order enjoining violation of the fireworks laws.
3. Provides that a person who sells fireworks, or possesses fireworks with
intent to sell them, in violation of the law may be fined not more than $10,000 or
imprisoned for not more than nine months, or both.
4. Provides that a person who is convicted of a second or subsequent violation
of a state law pertaining to the possession, use, or storage of fireworks within three
years of a previous violation is subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or
imprisonment of not more than nine months, or both.
5. Clarifies that it is an affirmative defense to prosecution for a violation of
fireworks laws that an item which is the subject of the prosecution is exempt from
the statutory definition of "fireworks."
Other changes
The bill provides that a person who sells fireworks in violation of the fireworks
laws may be held liable for any bodily injury to or death of others and for any damage
to the property of others that is caused by the use of the fireworks.
The bill also repeals the special treatment of fireworks seized by a law
enforcement official and instead makes these fireworks subject to the procedures
that generally apply to seized property.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to
result if the bill is enacted.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB380, s. 1 1Section 1. 20.143 (3) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB380,5,22 20.143 (3) (j) Safety and building operations. The amounts in the schedule for
3the purposes of chs. 101, 145, and 168 and ss. 167.10, 236.12 (2) (a), 236.13 (1) (d) and
4(2m), and 236.335. All moneys received under ch. 145, ss. 101.177 (4) (a) 4., 101.178,
5101.19, 101.63 (9), 101.654 (3), 101.73 (12), 101.82 (4), 101.955 (2), 101.973 (7),
6167.10 (3m), and 236.12 (7), except moneys received under s. 101.9208 (2m), and all

1moneys transferred under 2005 Wisconsin Act 45, section 76 (6), shall be credited to
2this appropriation.
AB380, s. 2 3Section 2. 167.10 (2) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB380,5,54 167.10 (2) Sale. (intro.) No Except as provided under sub. (2m), no person may
5sell or possess with intent to sell fireworks, except unless any of the following apply:
AB380, s. 3 6Section 3. 167.10 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB380,5,87 167.10 (2) (a) To a The person holding sells the fireworks to the holder of a
8permit under sub. (3) (c); (a) or (3g).
AB380, s. 4 9Section 4. 167.10 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB380,5,1010 167.10 (2) (b) To The person sells the fireworks to a city, village or town; or.
AB380, s. 5 11Section 5. 167.10 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB380,5,1312 167.10 (2) (c) For The person sells fireworks for a purpose specified under sub.
13(3) (b) 2. to 6.
AB380, s. 6 14Section 6 . 167.10 (2m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB380,5,1915 167.10 (2m) Wholesale sales exceptions. A fireworks wholesaler licensed
16under sub. (3m) (a) may sell fireworks to a person who is physically located outside
17of this state at the time the sale is made, at wholesale to a fireworks wholesaler
18licensed under sub. (3m) (a) or to a person registered with the department of
19commerce under sub. (3m) (b), or as authorized under sub. (2) (a) to (c).
AB380, s. 7 20Section 7. 167.10 (3) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB380,5,2121 167.10 (3) (title) Use and possession; displays.
AB380, s. 8 22Section 8. 167.10 (3) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 167.10 (3) (a) 1. and
23amended to read:
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