<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gen" article_name="Environment" number="9-2301" title_number="9" title_name="Water, Ice, and Sanitary Facilities" subtitle_number="23" subtitle_name="Miscellaneous Consumer Products">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Balloon” means a nonporous bag of tough and light material, generally latex or Mylar, whether filled or unfilled.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Mass balloon release” means an event where a person or persons knowingly and intentionally release or cause to be released 10 or more balloons into the atmosphere.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>“Person” means an individual at least 13 years old, a corporation, a partnership, an association, a nonprofit entity, the State, or any unit or political subdivision of the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>“Radio tracking device” means an instrument that emanates a signal that allows an operator to determine the position of a released balloon.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This section does not apply to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A balloon that is released for scientific or meteorological purposes:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>By or on behalf of an agency of the State or the United States;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>In accordance with a contract with the State, the United States, or any other state; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>By an institution of higher education conducting research;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A balloon that is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Attached to a radio tracking device; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Released by a person who holds an amateur operator license issued by the Federal Communications Commission;</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A hot air balloon that is recovered after launch; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The negligent or unintentional release of a balloon.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person may not knowingly and intentionally release or cause to be released a balloon into the atmosphere.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person may not organize or participate in a mass balloon release.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A person who violates subsection (c)(1) of this section shall perform 6 hours of community service or watch an educational video on environmental damage caused by human pollution or both.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A person who violates subsection (c)(2) of this section is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $100 per violation.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Each act of releasing, or organizing the release of, a balloon or group of balloons constitutes a separate violation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department shall enforce this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department may delegate its authority to enforce this section to an enforcement unit, officer, or official of a county, a municipality, or any other local government.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An enforcement unit, officer, or official of a local government with delegated authority shall report each violation under this section to the Department.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Department shall select, procure, or develop an educational video that does not exceed 1 hour in duration on environmental damage caused by human pollution that a person who violates subsection (c)(1) of this section may view in accordance with subsection (d)(1) of this section.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
