HOUSE BILL REPORT

                   1156

             As Reported By House Committee on:

               Agriculture & Rural Development

Title:  An act relating to structural pest control inspectors.

Brief Description:  Regulating structural pest control inspectors.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Winsley, Rayburn, Rasmussen, R. Johnson, Cole and Wilson.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Agriculture & Rural Development, February 7, 1991, DPA.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass as amended.  Signed by 11 members:  Representatives Rayburn, Chair; Kremen, Vice Chair; Nealey, Ranking Minority Member; P. Johnson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Chandler; Grant; R. Johnson; Lisk; McLean; Rasmussen; and Roland.

Staff:  Kenneth Hirst (786-7105).

Background:  The state's Pesticide Control Act requires that pesticides distributed within or delivered to this state be registered with the director of the Department of Agriculture.  The act also requires pest control consultants to be licensed by the Department of Agriculture.  To obtain a license, consultants must demonstrate, through a written examination, their knowledge of pesticide laws and rules, pesticide hazards, and the safe distribution, use, application, and disposal of pesticides.  The examinations may vary based on various classifications of the licenses sought.

Summary of Amended Bill:  No individual may commercially perform the service of inspecting a building for the presence of pests destructive to its structural components without first obtaining from the director of the Department of Agriculture a pest control consultant license in the special category of structural pest control inspector.  The licensing fee for such individuals is $30.  Exempted from the licensing requirement are entities licensed as pesticide applicators or operators when acting within the authorities of those licenses.  Also exempt are governmental employees acting in their official governmental capacities and certain persons acting solely within a licensed pesticide dealer's outlet.

The director may adopt rules establishing criteria governing the conduct of a structural pest control inspection.  It is unlawful for any person to fail to comply with such criteria.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The amendment clarifies that certain persons are exempted from licensure when operating within authorities of licenses issued under the state's Pesticide Application Act.

Fiscal Note:  Requested February 5, 1991.

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

Testimony For:  (1) Homeowners, particularly those who are seniors, are sometimes charged exorbitant fees for ineffective inspections by unregulated inspectors.  (2) To get FHA and VA loans, a home must be inspected for pests.  Many private banks also require these inspections.  The inspectors should be regulated to protect the public.  (3)  By far the greatest number of complaints filed by consumers regarding pest control involve structural pest inspections.  The industry has standards which are widely praised by federal and private lenders, but the standards are voluntary.  The bill will require the adoption of state standards.  (4) The voluntary standards that have been developed by the industry should be adopted as state standards.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Winsley (in favor); Don Long, Larry Trevelen, Corey Chantry, and William Barber, Washington Pest Control Association (in favor); and Mike Schwisow, Department of Agriculture (in favor).