1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to public safety; exempting professional and 
  1.3             volunteer firefighters with at least two years 
  1.4             experience from certain qualifications for 
  1.5             certification as fireworks operators; amending 
  1.6             Minnesota Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 624.22, 
  1.7             subdivision 2. 
  1.8   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.9      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1995 Supplement, section 
  1.10  624.22, subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
  1.11     Subd. 2.  [OPERATOR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS.] (a) An 
  1.12  applicant to be a supervising operator of a fireworks display 
  1.13  shall meet the requirements of this subdivision before the 
  1.14  applicant is certified by the state fire marshal. 
  1.15     (b) An applicant must be at least 21 years old. 
  1.16     (c) An applicant must have completed a written examination, 
  1.17  administered or approved by the state fire marshal, and achieved 
  1.18  a passing score of at least 70 percent.  The state fire marshal 
  1.19  must be satisfied that achieving a passing score on the 
  1.20  examination satisfactorily demonstrates the applicant's 
  1.21  knowledge of statutes, codes, and nationally recognized 
  1.22  standards concerning safe practices for the discharge and 
  1.23  display of fireworks. 
  1.24     (d) An applicant shall apply in writing to the state fire 
  1.25  marshal by completing and signing an application form provided 
  1.26  by the state fire marshal. 
  2.1      (e) An applicant shall submit evidence of experience, which 
  2.2   must include active participation as an assistant or operator in 
  2.3   the performance of at least five fireworks displays, at least 
  2.4   one of which must have occurred in the current or preceding year.
  2.5      (f) A person who has been employed as a firefighter by a 
  2.6   municipal fire department, or who has been a volunteer 
  2.7   firefighter for a volunteer fire department, for at least two 
  2.8   years at the time of application under this subdivision need not 
  2.9   comply with the requirements of paragraphs (c) and (e) in order 
  2.10  to qualify for certification under this section. 
  2.11     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.12     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.