SENATE BILL REPORT

                  SSB 6479

              As Passed Senate, February 10, 2000

Title:  An act relating to addressing concerns about pesticide use in schools.

Brief Description:  Addressing concerns about pesticide use in schools.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Eide, McAuliffe, Goings, Brown, Patterson, Costa, Fraser, Jacobsen, Kline, Rasmussen and Kohl‑Welles).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  1/20/2000, 1/26/2000 [DPS].

Passed Senate, 2/10/2000, 45-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6479 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Bauer, Finkbeiner, Goings, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen and Swecker.

Staff:  Vanessa Power (786-7448)

Background:  Current law requires that a certified applicator (an individual licensed to apply pesticides) making a landscape or right-of-way pesticide application provide notice.  Notice includes displaying the name and telephone number of the applicator on any application machinery.  Notice also includes carrying a material safety data sheet that describes each pesticide being applied.

Summary of Bill:  Pesticide applications to preschool, day care, or public elementary or secondary school grounds or facilities require posted and written notice.  Written notice to students, parents or guardians, and employees must be given at least 48 hours before application.  Notice must also be posted at the treatment site, at a central area at the school, and at entrances to the school at least 48 hours before application.  Notice requirements do not apply to the use of antimicrobial pesticides, or contained bait stations that are out of the reach of children.

Notice includes the following information:  the name of the pesticide, the pesticide's active ingredient, the date and time of application, the area and rate of application, and the name and phone number of a contact person.  Posted signs must be at least 8 2 by 11 inches and remain posted for one week after the pesticide application.  The applicator must display the applicator's name and telephone number on application equipment, and carry a material safety data sheet for each pesticide being applied.

An applicator making a landscape application at a school must place a marker at each point of entry to the school grounds at the time of application.  The marker must state that the landscape has been treated, and include the company name and telephone number.

Schools must provide annual notice about the school's pest control policy, methods, and the pesticides that may be used at the school.

When there is a pesticide application to a school landscape, athletic field, or structure over a school break, posted notice requirements still apply.  When there is an indoor or outdoor application over an extended school break, written notice must be sent at the beginning of the break.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  Notice is important because parents have the right to know what pesticides are used at their children's schools.  Notice will allow parents to make the causal connection between pesticides and children's health problems.  There was concern about the responsibility being placed on certified applicators.  Responsibility for providing notice should fall on whoever is applying pesticide.  There was concern about the need for training for people applying pesticides.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Erika Schreder, Washington Toxics Coalition; Maria Mason, parent; Barbara Casey, Washington State Parent Teacher Association; Johnny Burrow, Seattle School District; Heather Hansen, Washington Friends of Farms and Forests (with concerns); Jack Marlowe, Washington State Pest Control Association (with concerns); Karen Davis, Washington Education Association; Mary Beth Lang, Department of Agriculture (with concerns); Glen Gordon, Public School Employees; David Westberg, Stationary Engineers; Jill Albinger, parent; Therese Cushing, parent.