Balloons; prohibits release into atmosphere. (SB1107)
Introduced By
Sen. Jeff McWaters (R-Virginia Beach)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
☐ |
Passed House |
✗ |
Passed Senate |
☐ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Release of balloons. Prohibits any person, with certain exceptions, from intentionally releasing or causing to be released any balloon into the atmosphere that (i) is inflated with a substance lighter than air and (ii) requires more than five minutes' contact with air or water to degrade. Currently, a person is prohibited from releasing 50 or more nonbiodegradable or nonphotodegradable balloons within a one-hour period. The bill retains the current civil penalty of $5 per prohibited balloon released; however, the proceeds generated from the civil penalty are set to be deposited into the Litter Control and Recycling Fund administered by the Department of Environmental Quality; whereas, the proceeds are currently deposited into the Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Endowment Fund. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
01/13/2015 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/14/15 15103105D |
01/13/2015 | Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources |
01/19/2015 | Impact statement from DPB (SB1107) |
01/28/2015 | Impact statement from DPB (SB1107) |
01/29/2015 | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with amendments (9-Y 6-N) (see vote tally) |
01/29/2015 | Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with amendments (8-Y 7-N) (see vote tally) |
02/02/2015 | Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/03/2015 | Passed by for the day |
02/04/2015 | Read second time |
02/04/2015 | Reading of amendments waived |
02/04/2015 | Committee amendments agreed to |
02/04/2015 | Passed by for the day |
02/05/2015 | Read second time |
02/05/2015 | Engrossed by Senate as amended SB1107E |
02/05/2015 | Printed as engrossed 15103105D-E |
02/06/2015 | Read third time and defeated by Senate (16-Y 21-N 1-A) (see vote tally) |
Comments
I don't understand how a balloon would degrade in the air after 5 minutes. How would such balloons be manufactured—in special halon-filled factories? They'd need to be packaged in air-tight bags, and you'd need to inflate them immediately before using them. I'm dubious that this is a thing that exists.
I support this bill to ban the intentional release of any balloon. It causes undo harm to wildlife (which are threatened on every level) and our waterways. We MUSTstart protecting our environment and our only home planet...
Thank you,
Michael Minor
We support Sen McWaters bill to protect our aquatic wildlife. Industry and human creativity will come up with a meaningful and colorful alternative to outdoor release of balloons.