Call to Action - May 27, 2008

To NYSPC members and NYS pyros:

On May 22, an e-mail was sent to a number of pyrotechnics professionals and business owners in New York State under the name of the Western New York Pyrotechnics Association (WNYPA). This letter asked for support of a bill currently before Assembly and Senate committees in the NYS legislature.

The letter is misleading - the bill it seeks support for as "our bill" is in fact the disastrous DOL departmental bill, S3911A/A09006A. This bill significantly increases DOL regulation, costs and penalties for NYS pyrotechnics display businesses. It also freezes out licensed amateurs from permitted pyrotechnic activities.

The New York State Pyrotechnic Coalition (NYSPC) representing a majority of NYS pyrotechnic professionals - especially medium to small pyrotechnic display owners - strongly opposes DOL departmental bill S3911A/A09006A.

At this crucial time we are asking our members and concerned NYS pyros to contact their NYS Senators in support of pro-pyrotechnics business bill, S7283, which removes duplicative NYS DOL oversight of ATF regulated pyrotechnic activities and defines private pyrotechnic displays as legal activities. Our bill is currently favored by the Senate over the DOL bill but the DOL is pulling every string available to undermine it, so your call (or e-mail) to your Senator as soon as you can THIS WEEK is extremely important.

We also ask that NYS pyros call their Senators and Assemblymembers to support S7899/A10750 as a backup bill. This bill modifies NYS Penal Law to expand the definition of "public displays" to include weddings and other private functions, and it will accomplish this without the harmful excess baggage of the DOL bill.

Please call AND e-mail your state SENATOR in SUPPORT of: S7283 and S7899 and in OPPOSITION to the DOL departmental bill, and call AND e-mail your state Assemblymember in SUPPORT of: A10750 and in OPPOSITION to the DOL departmental bill. To find your NYS Senator and Assemblymember, go to the NYS Senate and Assembly Contacts page.

Very important: please let us know (info@nyspyro.org) when you have contacted your representatives.

Thanks and best regards,
New York State Pyrotechnic Coalition

Detailed talking points are at the Legislative Reference page.