New fireworks legislation wording could affect public safety agencies

MORNINGSIDE, Pa. — Target 11 discovered a wrinkle in a plan to fund the state budget with fireworks.

Now there’s figurative fireworks over the legislation as a local state representative says the Senate changed the wording and public safety agencies will feel the impact.

“It's a money grab, it's a secret money grab. There's no question about it,” said State Representative (D) - Allegheny County Dom Costa of Morningside as he called out fellow lawmakers and their effort to legalize roman candles, bottle rockets and firecrackers in Pennsylvania.

Costa says the initial legislation called for all of the proceeds to go to fire, EMS and public safety agencies for training in fireworks-related injuries.

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But at the last minute, Costa says lawmakers changed the funding formula and now only one sixth of the total will go to public safety agencies. The bulk of the tax revenue, estimated at $3 million a year, will go to the general fund.

Costa said he's “not happy at all, because what they are doing in essence is they are ripping off the public safety people and I’m not going to stand for that or tolerate that.”

Costa says he's against legalizing the fireworks, because he fears it will lead to more injuries. But he says he could live with it if the public safety agencies get the training they need to respond to injuries.

“If you are going to allow something to come in that could be a potential danger, you know we are going to have victims that are going to be burned and stuff like that. Then you give the agencies that are going to respond to those the best possible training and the resources to get those trainings,” Costa said.

The legislation passed the Senate.

Costa says the House will take it up when they return next month.

Costa believes he has the support to kill the legislation if the funding formula doesn't change.

Cox Media Group