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Senate Bill 113 Written Proponent Testimony — Eric Turner, American Promotional Events (June 23, 2021)

Summary

Written proponent testimony of Eric Turner of American Promotional Events on Senate Bill 113, dated June 23, 2021, addressed to the committee. The testimony applauds Representatives Baldridge and O'Brien and Senators Johnson and Rulli for the effort to reform Ohio's fireworks laws. It states the company sells under the TNT Fireworks name and works primarily with over 1,400 retail partners in Ohio. It says the bill would allow ground-based sparklers or fountains to be sold in retail stores, with stores licensed by the State Fire Marshal, a 4% tax on the sale of the fountains, and sales only to those 18 years old or older.

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“Senate Bill 113 Written Proponent Testimony — Eric Turner, American Promotional Events (June 23, 2021).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2021-06-23-commerce-labor-testimony-sb113proericswritten-e46d7c52ff/, SHA-256 249e51b5509c66dd76342e1e580abf877ade0978cbdd06e6432b7d8ab94bce07.

Full text

June 23, 2021
Senate Bill 113 Written Proponent Testimony
Eric Turner, American Promotional Events
317-417-1177
eturner@t3investments.com


  Chairman Stein, Vice-Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Lepore-Hagan, and members
  of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to offer proponent testimony on Senate
  Bill 113. My name is Eric Turner and I want to applaud Representatives Baldridge and
  O'Brien and Senators Johnson and Rulli for their efforts to bring this much needed reform
  to Ohio's fireworks laws.

  Our company, American Promotional Events, Inc. (sold under the TNT Fireworks name,)
  celebrated 100 years selling fireworks this last year. Our company offers a wide variety
  of products to our more than 40,000 retail customers across the United States. We have
  one TNT Fireworks Supercenter in Dayton, but primarily work with over 1,400 retail
  partners in Ohio. In Ohio, our sales have been limited to handheld sparklers and novelty
  items that are currently the only fireworks permissible for sale by Chain Retailers and
  Mom & Pop stores.

  As you know, Senate Bill 113 will finally allow Ohioans to celebrate the 4th of July with
  fireworks and without breaking the law. The bill also brings Ohio in-line with the vast majority
  of other states that allow for ground sparklers to be sold in retail stores. Ground-based
  Sparklers or Fountains are nonexplosive and non-aerial devices that emit a shower of
  sparks. These fountains are often sold with hand-held sparklers and novelty items in an
  assortment pack. However, under current Ohio law, these devices are only available where
  fireworks are sold.

  Our company ships the assortments with the fountains to every state except Ohio, Illinois,
  Vermont and Massachusetts. With the passage of this bill, our Ohio retailers, including
  Wal*Mart, Target, Meijer, Sam's, Costco and Kroger, among many others, will have the
  opportunity to sell these products to Ohio consumers for their own family 4th of July
  celebrations.

  Our retail partners welcome this proposed change as an exciting new offering to their
  customers. They have agreed that to sell these new devices, the store must be licensed by
  the State Fire Marshal, collect a 4% tax on the sale of the fountains and must adhere to the
  National Fire Protection Association Code 1124. Furthermore, these fountains are only to be
  sold in fixed retail stores and only to those 18 years old or older. Just as my company
  believes in the utmost importance of safety, our retail partners are committed to ensuring
  these new items will be sold in a safe and responsible manner.

  I want to thank Representatives Baldridge and O'Brien as well as Senators Rulli and Johnson
  for their efforts on this issue. I also want to thank others in the fireworks industry. Although
  we compete against one another in the marketplace, we have been able to come together
  and reach a compromise with the legislation now in front of your Committee. Senate Bill 113
  will benefit retailers in Ohio, while also allowing Ohio citizens to enjoy the celebration of our
  freedom, in a safe and enjoyable way.



      4830-1309-8735, v.1

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