SB 5552 - DIGEST

Requires the department of agriculture to establish a program to: (1) Promote and protect native pollinator habitat and the health and sustainability of pollinator species;

(2) Provide technical and financial assistance to state agencies, local governments, and private landowners to implement practices that promote habitat for native and managed pollinators; and

(3) Be administered in coordination with the apiary program, the honey bee commission, and programs administered by the state conservation commission and conservation districts.

Requires the department to: (1) Create and chair a pollinator health task force; and

(2) Develop educational materials regarding the best practices for avoiding adverse effects from pesticides on populations of bees and other pollinating insects.

Requires the task force to build upon existing pollinator plans and pollinator habitat plans at the national and state level to develop a state pollinator health strategy.

Provides a January 1, 2020, expiration date for the task force.