July 2008
On July 15, 2008, the balloon industry has reached an agreeement with Senator Scott (bill author) and his staff on SB 1499 which does not include a ban helium-filled metallic balloons.
Read on for full details.
May 2008
Senate Bill 1499 passed out of the Senate on May 29, 2008, and moves to the Assembly where it will be assigned by the Rules Committee for hearings. It is thought that SB1499 will be assigned to the Public Safety Committee which is where the bill has it best chance for defeat.
April 2008
Senate Bill 1499 was introduced to the California Public Safety Committee on April 8, 2008. The bill would make it a crime for any person to sell or distribute any balloon that is constructed of electrically conductive material, and filled with a gas lighter than air, or any balloon filled with a gas lighter than air that is attached to an electrically conductive string, tether, streamer, or other electrically conductive appurtenance, except as specified. The bill was moved out of committee by a 4-0 vote.
October 2007
Burbank City Council discusses proposal to ban the sale of metallic balloons
A question about the City’s ability to regulate metallic or electrically conductive balloons (sometimes referred to as Mylar balloons) in Burbank was raised at the Sept 25, 2007, Council meeting. This report is for the purpose of Step One in the Council’s “One step – Two step” process. State law requires that these balloons be weighted and that they carry a warning about the risks of contact with electrical power lines. The Burbank Municipal Code requires a warning sign at all places of sale about the risks of contact with electrical power lines. Balloon industry representatives attended the meeting and have been given the opportunity to recommend alternative solutions to the Council. Passage of such a ban could spread to neighboring cities and reverberate throughout the country.
July 2007
The New York Senate is now considering a bill to ban the release of more than 25 balloons within one 24 hour period by any business, firm, corporation or association. A penalty of $10 for each balloon released in excess of the limits shall be charged, not to exceed $50,000. The Balloon Council is tracking movement on Bill 7630 and is prepared to testify on behalf of the balloon industry. Please contact the New York Senate to oppose this bill.
June 2007
Good News! The New Hamphire Senate voted June 6, 2007, to kill HB 62 which proposed to ban balloon releases in the state of New Hampshire. The Balloon Council was once again instrumental in defeating this legislation.
February 2005
Tissue Paper Dumping
On February 14, 2005 the Department of Commerce announced its final determination in the antidumping duty investigation of imports of certain tissue paper products for the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The department found that producers/exporters sold certain crepe paper products from the PRC in the U.S. market at less than fair value, and assessed a weighted-average dumping margin of 112.64 percent.
On March 8, 2005, The International Trade Commission also determined that imports of tissue paper from the PRC are materially injuring, or threaten to materially injure, the domestic industry in the U.S. and has issued an antidumping order instructing the U.S. Customs and Border Protections to collect antidumping duties on the subject imports.
This article was published in the April 2005 Edition of Party & Paper Retailer Magazine.
To read the ITC determination, go to: http://hotdocs.usitc.gov/docs/pubs/701_731/pub3758.pdf
August 2005
What’s Up….With the Illegal Balloon Issue?
The International Balloon Association was created, designed, and operates to protect you and our industry from the illegal and unethical tactics that can harm your business and our industry. But, we can’t do it alone. We need more eyes and ears from the street to help us find these issues before they grow out of control.
For instance: Have you seen illegally copyrighted balloons being imported from China and distributed throughout the US? Do you know of any indiscriminately low priced balloons from foreign manufacturers creeping in the US market?
We all suffer if we don’t stop these things in their tracks. Eventually the public will develop a lower perceived value of balloons and be unwilling to pay the fair market value, hurting all of our gross profit percentages. In the long run – it is a direct threat to our industry survival! Please help us by reporting wrongdoers right away!