(a) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, for the granting of permits for supervised displays of special effects produced by pyrotechnics, including sparklers and fountains, or flame producing devices by municipalities, fair associations, amusement parks, other organizations or groups of individuals or artisans in pursuit of their trade. Such regulations shall include provisions for determining the competency of persons intending to discharge or fire such special effects. Such regulations shall not apply to ceremonial activities that include minimal use of pyrotechnics or flame producing devices.

(b) An applicant for a permit for the supervised display of such special effects produced by pyrotechnics or flame producing devices shall submit a written application at least fifteen days prior to the date of the display, or upon such notice as the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection by regulation prescribes, on forms furnished by said commissioner. The fee for such application shall be one hundred dollars, made payable to the State Treasurer. The commissioner shall not grant any such permit until (1) the fire marshal for the municipality where the intended display is to be held inspects the site intended for the display and determines it to be in compliance with the requirements of such regulations, and (2) the chiefs of the police and fire departments or, if there is no police or fire department, the chief executive officer of the municipality where the intended display is to be held approves such intended site. Such display shall be of such a character and so located, discharged or fired as in the opinion of the chiefs of the police and fire departments or chief executive officer, after proper inspection, will not be hazardous to property or endanger any person. After such permit has been granted, the possession of pyrotechnics and flame producing devices for use in such display shall be lawful for that purpose only. No permit granted pursuant to this subsection shall be transferable. The commissioner may suspend or revoke such permit for violation by the permittee of any provision of the general statutes, any regulation or any ordinance relating to special effects.

(c) No pyrotechnic or flame producing device for use in a special effects display shall be handled, discharged or fired by any person unless under the supervision of a person who has been granted a certificate of competency for special effects by the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The fee for such certificate shall be two hundred dollars, made payable to the State Treasurer. Such certificate may be renewed every three years upon payment of a fee of one hundred ninety dollars to the State Treasurer. Such certificate shall attest to the fact that such person is competent to supervise the handling and discharge or firing of such special effects. No certificate granted pursuant to this subsection shall be transferable. The commissioner may suspend or revoke such certificate at any time for cause.

(d) The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may grant, in writing, variations or exemptions from, or approve equivalent or alternate compliance with, particular provisions of any regulation adopted under the provisions of subsection (a) of this section where strict compliance with such provisions would entail practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship or is otherwise adjudged unwarranted, provided any such variation, exemption, approved equivalent or alternate compliance shall, in the opinion of the commissioner, secure the public safety.

(e) Any person, firm or corporation violating the provisions of subsection (b) or (c) of this section or any regulation adopted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor, except if death or injury results from any such violation, such person, firm or corporation shall be guilty of a class C felony.

(P.A. 13-256, S. 16.)