The Washington Department of Agriculture (WSDA) administers the state Pesticide Control Act and the state Pesticide Application Act.  Its activities include adopting rules requiring the registration and restricted use of pesticides, testing and certifying pesticide applicators, issuing handler and worker pesticide training documentation, and providing technical assistance to pesticide applicators and workers.

All individuals who are licensed, or who are required to be licensed as pesticide applicators, pesticide operators, structural pest inspectors, and pest control consultants, must be certified through examination in the area in which they operate or consult.  To be certified, a person must attain a passing score of at least 70 percent on a certification examination.

Examinations are administered by WSDA, and WSDA collects a fee from the applicant for each exam at an amount set in rule.  License classifications address the control of a variety of pests, including insects and diseases, pest animals in agricultural situations, aquatic pests both generally and in irrigation systems, and weeds.  There are also licenses for pest control operators and structural pest inspectors.

Pesticide registration fees are increased from $390 to $650 and from $195 to $325 for a registrant who is applying to register an additional pesticide.  Pesticide dealer license fees are increased from $67 to $88.  Pesticide dealer manager license fees are increased from $33 to $38.  Structural pest inspector license fees are increased from $60 to $78.  Pest control consultant license fees are increased from $60 to $78.  Public pest control consultant license fees are increased from $33 to $43.

Commercial applicator license fees are increased from $215 to $243.  A commercial operator license fee is increased from $67 to $78.  Private-commercial pesticide applicator license fees are increased from $33 to $38.  Private applicator license fees are increased from $33 to $38 and limited private applicator license fees are set at $33.  Rancher private applicator license fees are increased to $103.  Fees for a demonstration and research license are increased to $43.  Public operator license fees are increased from $33 to $43.

WSDA must collect a fee of $7 for each license issued by WSDA under the Pesticide Control Act and the Pesticide Application Act and transmit the $7 fee to Washington State University for providing a pesticide safety education program to educate and train pesticide licensees and prospective licensees. 

WSDA must post a timeline for processing complete pesticide registrations on its website.  WSDA must engage with the regulated community on the status of license fees and consideration of future fee increases under the Pesticide Control Act and Pesticide Application Act.  WSDA must report to the Legislature by December 31, 2022, on the status of the fee structure, including an outlook for potential future fee needs, and a description of how WSDA has engaged with the regulated community.  All new applications or renewals of pesticide registration, licensing, or certification received on or after November 1, 2021, are subject to the provisions of the bill.