SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5453

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 18, 1991

Brief Description:  Prohibiting the release of lighter‑than‑air balloons.

SPONSORS:Senators Rinehart, Owen, McCaslin, Skratek and A. Smith.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES

Staff:  Atsushi Kiuchi (786‑7708)

Hearing Dates:February 20, 1991

BACKGROUND:

The popularity of massive balloon releases into the air to commemorate special occasions has an environmental downside.

These releases, staged at promotional or sporting events, threaten air quality and, upon descending, litter the land and marine waters.  In addition, recent findings indicate these balloons, when ingested by wildlife, result in injury and/or death.

Three states have taken action to restrict the number of balloons that may be released into the atmosphere at one time.

SUMMARY:

The state Clean Air Act is amended to ban the intentional release, organizing a release, or intentionally causing a release within a 24-hour period, ten or more balloons inflated with a gas lighter than air.       

Exempt from the provisions of this act are:  scientific or meteorological balloons released on behalf of a government agency or pursuant to a government contract; hot air balloons recovered after launching; and balloons released indoors.

Violators are subject to a maximum civil penalty of $250.

      Any person may petition a district or superior court to enforce the  provisions of this act.

Appropriation: none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested