Virginia Bills

Authorizes a person to sell consumer fireworks if he possesses a federal permit to sell fireworks, a permit issued by the Board of Housing and Community Development, and a local permit, if and as required by the locality where the sales facility is located. The measure directs the Board to establish requirements and establish a process for the issuance and renewal of permits for the sale of consumer fireworks. A permittee is required to carry, with respect to each permitted facility, public liability and product liability insurance with minimum limits of $5 million to cover the losses, damages, or injuries that might ensue to persons or property as a result of the sales of consumer fireworks. The measure specifies certain requirements for facilities at which consumer fireworks are permitted to be sold, including prohibitions on an individual under 18 years of age (i) being admitted into any consumer fireworks retail sales facility unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, or responsible adult or (ii) working in any consumer fireworks retail sales facility. The measure prohibits a person from, among other acts, (a) selling consumer fireworks within the Commonwealth unless he is a permittee or an employee or agent of a permittee; (b) selling consumer fireworks from a place other than a permanent consumer fireworks retail sales facility; (c) selling consumer fireworks to an individual who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs; (d) knowingly selling or otherwise furnishing consumer fireworks to an individual under 18 years of age; (e) purchasing, using, or possessing consumer fireworks if the individual is under 18 years of age; or (f) selling or storing fireworks that are not consumer fireworks as defined in a standard established by the American Pyrotechnics Association. Certain violations are punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. A person violating restrictions on the hours during which, or places where, consumer fireworks may be used is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $150 per violation.

Requires utilities to give notice by first-class mail of planned vegetation management activities to customers, landowners, and local governments. The notice, which is required to be sent not less than 10 days before the activities commence, shall include a map of the site or parcels where activities are proposed and a description of the procedures by which the person to whom the notice is mailed may appeal the conduct of the planned vegetation management activities. The State Corporation Commission (SCC) shall require utilities to establish reasonable criteria for the conduct of vegetation management activities, which shall be consistent with guidelines to be adopted by the SCC that establish standards for the conduct of vegetation management activities. Vegetation management activities by any utility shall not alter, trespass upon, or limit the rights of any property owner. The measure requires the SCC, upon receipt of a written complaint, to investigate the situation. The measure also authorizes the SCC to impose a civil penalty against a utility that violates these requirements. One-half of the civil penalties collected by the SCC is to be paid to the owner of the property damaged by the violation that gave rise to the assessment of the civil penalty, and the other one-half is to be deposited in a special fund created by this bill and used for administration and enforcement activities.