Bill Text: VA SB318 | 2020 | Regular Session | Prefiled


Bill Title: Balloons; reduces the number per hour that a person may release.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-02-19 - Continued to 2021 in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources by voice vote [SB318 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2020-SB318-Prefiled.html
20103674D
SENATE BILL NO. 318
Offered January 8, 2020
Prefiled January 5, 2020
A BILL to amend and reenact §29.1-556.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to release of balloons; prohibition.
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Patron-- Kiggans
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Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §29.1-556.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§29.1-556.1. Release of certain balloons prohibited; penalty.

A. It shall be is unlawful for any person to knowingly release or cause to be released into the atmosphere within a one-hour period fifty or more balloons which are than one balloon that is (i) made of a nonbiodegradable or nonphotodegradable material or any material which that requires more than five minutes' contact with air or water to degrade and (ii) inflated with a substance which that is lighter than air. Any person who violates this section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed five dollars $5 per balloon released above the allowable limit, which. All funds collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Endowment Fund established pursuant to §29.1-101.1.

B. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any (i) balloons balloon released (a) by or on behalf of any agency of the Commonwealth, or the United States or (b) pursuant to a contract with the Commonwealth, the United States, or any other state, territory, or government for scientific or meteorological purposes, or (ii) hot air balloons balloon that are is recovered after launch.

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