H.B. 201

This document includes House Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on Mon, Feb 1, 2010 at 10:52 AM by lerror. --> 1

STATE FIRE MARSHAL MODIFICATIONS
2 2010 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Ronda Rudd Menlove
5 Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Utah Fire Prevention and Safety Act in the Public Safety Code to
10 regulate the manufacture, storage, sale, and distribution of novelty lighters that have a
11 shape resembling or imitating a toy or object other than a lighter.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 . authorizes the Utah Fire Prevention Board to adopt administrative rules to:
15 . identify lighters or classes or types of lighters that are commonly referred to as
16 novelty lighters; and
17 . provide for review of a decision of the State Fire Marshal Division regarding
18 these lighters;
19 . requires the state fire marshal to maintain and make available to the public a list of
20 novelty lighters;
21 . prohibits the sale, manufacture, distribution, or possession of novelty lighters for the
22 purpose of selling or distributing the novelty lighters within the state;
23 . authorizes the state fire marshal, a representative of the state fire marshal, a local
24 fire enforcement official, and a law enforcement agency to seize and destroy certain
25 novelty lighters;
26 . provides civil penalties and authorizes the state fire marshal to assess a civil penalty
27 on a manufacturer, importer, wholesaler, seller, or distributor of the novelty lighters;

28 . grants the state fire marshal, a representative of the state fire marshal, or a local fire
29 enforcement official authority to inspect facilities and business records pertaining to
30 the manufacturing, importing, distribution, sale, or storage of lighters; and
31 . allows the state attorney general to bring an action at the request of the state fire
32 marshal to:
33 . prevent or end a violation;
34 . recover civil penalties;
35 . obtain access for inspections; or
36 . recover attorney fees and other enforcement costs and disbursements.
37 Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
38 None
39 Other Special Clauses:
40 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2010.
41 Utah Code Sections Affected:
42 ENACTS:
43 53-7-501, Utah Code Annotated 1953
44 53-7-502, Utah Code Annotated 1953
45 53-7-503, Utah Code Annotated 1953
46 53-7-504, Utah Code Annotated 1953
47 53-7-505, Utah Code Annotated 1953
48 53-7-506, Utah Code Annotated 1953
49
50 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
51 Section 1. Section 53-7-501 is enacted to read:
52 Part 5. Regulation of Novelty Lighters
53 53-7-501. Title.
54 This part is known as "Regulation of Novelty Lighters."
55 Section 2. Section 53-7-502 is enacted to read:
56 53-7-502. Definitions.
57 As used in this part:
58 (1) "Audio effect" includes music, animal sounds, whistles, buzzers, or other noises not

59 pertinent to the flame-producing function of the lighter.
60 (2) "Distribute" means to:
61 (a) deliver to a person other than the purchaser; or
62 (b) provide as part of a commercial promotion or as a prize or premium.
63 (3) "Importer" means a person who causes a lighter to enter this state from a
64 manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, or retail sales point outside this state:
65 (a) for the purpose of selling or distributing the lighter within this state; or
66 (b) with the result that the lighter is sold or distributed within this state.
67 (4) "Lighter" means a handheld mechanical device of a type typically used for igniting
68 tobacco products by use of a flame.
69 (5) "Misleading design" means a lighter that:
70 (a) has a shape that resembles or imitates an object other than a lighter;
71 (b) may have one or more audio or visual effects; and
72 (c) has other features of a type that would reasonably be expected to make the lighter
73 appealing or attractive to a child younger than 10 years of age.
74 (6) "Novelty lighter":
75 (a) means a lighter that has:
76 (i) a misleading design; and
77 (ii) operates on any fuel, including butane or liquid fuel;
78 (b) does not mean:
79 (i) a lighter manufactured before January 1, 1980;
80 (ii) a lighter that has been rendered permanently incapable of producing a flame or
81 otherwise causing combustion; or
82 (iii) a mechanical device primarily used to ignite fuel for fireplaces, or for charcoal or
83 gas grills.
84 (7) "Sell" means to provide or promise to provide a product to a wholesale, retail,
85 mail-order, or other purchaser in exchange for consideration.
86 (8) "Visual effect":
87 (a) includes flashing lights, color-changing lights, or changing images; and
88 (b) does not include logos, decals, decorative artwork, or heat-shrinkable sleeves.
89 Section 3. Section 53-7-503 is enacted to read:

90 53-7-503. Rulemaking authority -- Publicly accessible list of contraband lighters
91 maintained by the state fire marshal -- Authority to seize and destroy novelty lighters.
92 (1) The Utah Fire Prevention Board, created in Section 53-7-203 , may adopt rules in
93 accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to:
94 (a) identify lighters or classes or types of lighters that are novelty lighters; and
95 (b) provide for an informal adjudicative hearing, as provided in Section 63G-4-203 , by
96 the board to hear appeals of decisions of the State Fire Marshal Division under this part.
97 (2) (a) The state fire marshal shall establish and maintain a list of lighters, or classes
98 and types of lighters, that the state fire marshal has determined to be novelty lighters under this
99 part.
100 (b) The state fire marshal shall make the list available H. [ to the public in electronic form
101 or in other forms selected by the state fire marshal. ] on the website maintained by the Department
101a of Public Safety. .H
102 (3) A lighter is a contraband item subject to seizure and destruction by the state fire
103 marshal, a representative of the state fire marshal, a local fire enforcement official, or by a law
104 enforcement agency, if the lighter is:
105 (a) listed, or of a class or type listed, by the state fire marshal as a novelty lighter; and
106 (b) (i) offered for sale, sold, or distributed in this state; or
107 (ii) manufactured or possessed in this state for the purpose of sale or distribution in this
108 state.
109 (4) (a) The state fire marshal, a representative of the state fire marshal, a local fire
110 enforcement official, or a law enforcement agency may seize a novelty lighter that is not
111 described in Subsection (3).
112 (b) Upon finding that the person from whom the novelty lighter was seized is subject to
113 a civil penalty under Section 53-7-504 for being a manufacturer, importer, wholesaler, storer,
114 seller, or distributor of the novelty lighter, the state fire marshal or a representative may order
115 that the novelty lighter be forfeited and destroyed.
116 Section 4. Section 53-7-504 is enacted to read:
117 53-7-504. Offenses -- Civil penalties -- Penalty monies to be deposited in the Fire
118 Academy Support Fund.
119 (1) (a) A person may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute a novelty lighter in this state.
120 (b) A person may not manufacture a novelty lighter in this state, or import a novelty

121 lighter into this state, for the purpose of selling or distributing the novelty lighter within this
122 state.
123 (c) A person may not possess a novelty lighter in inventory for the purpose of selling or
124 distributing the novelty lighter within this state.
125 (2) (a) The state fire marshal may assess a civil penalty against a person who violates
126 Subsection (1) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act.
127 (b) The civil penalty for a violation of Subsection (1) may not exceed:
128 (i) $10,000 for the manufacture or importation of novelty lighters;
129 (ii) $1,000 if the person acts as a wholesaler of novelty lighters or distributes novelty
130 lighters by means other than distribution directly to consumers; and
131 (iii) $500 if the person is:
132 (A) a retail seller of novelty lighters; or
133 (B) a person distributing novelty lighters, other than as a manufacturer, importer, or
134 wholesaler.
135 (3) If a person continues to violate this section after the state fire marshal gives the
136 person written notice of a violation, each day that the violation continues after written notice is
137 given is a separate offense subject to a civil penalty.
138 (4) (a) For purposes of imposing civil penalties, it is prima facie evidence that a lighter
139 is a novelty lighter if the lighter is listed by the state fire marshal as a novelty lighter under
140 Section 53-7-503 , or is of a class or type of lighter listed by the state fire marshal as a novelty
141 lighter.
142 (b) Listing by the state fire marshal is not a requirement for a determination that a
143 lighter is a novelty lighter.
144 (5) All moneys collected from civil penalties under this section shall be deposited in
145 the Fire Academy Support Account created in Section 53-7-204.2 .
146 (6) A person may seek judicial review of a final agency action under this part as
147 provided in Title 63G, Chapter 4, Administrative Procedures Act.
148 Section 5. Section 53-7-505 is enacted to read:
149 53-7-505. Authority to have reasonable access to inspect facilities and records.
150 (1) The state fire marshal, a representative of the state fire marshal, or a local fire
151 enforcement official may conduct inspections to ensure compliance with Section 53-7-504 .

152 The state fire marshal, a representative of the state fire marshal, or a local fire enforcement
153 official may, regarding facilities within this state used in the business of manufacturing,
154 importing, distributing, selling, or storing of lighters:
155 (a) have access during reasonable business hours;
156 (b) inspect the facilities and any lighters located at the facilities; and
157 (c) inspect all business records pertaining to lighter manufacture, import, distribution,
158 sale, or storage.
159 (2) A person engaged in this state in the business of manufacturing, importing,
160 distributing, selling, or storing lighters shall grant the state fire marshal, a representative of the
161 state fire marshal, or a local fire enforcement official reasonable access for conducting
162 inspections under Subsection (1).
163 Section 6. Section 53-7-506 is enacted to read:
164 53-7-506. Attorney general may bring action at request of the state fire marshal.
165 (1) The state attorney general may bring an action at the request of the state fire
166 marshal, in the name of the state, seeking:
167 (a) injunctive relief to prevent or end a violation of Section 53-7-504 or 53-7-505 ;
168 (b) to recover civil penalties imposed under Section 53-7-504 ;
169 (c) to obtain access for inspections under Section 53-7-505 ; or
170 (d) to recover attorney fees and other enforcement costs.
171 Section 7. Effective date.
172 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2010.




Legislative Review Note
as of 9-15-09 3:25 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel