SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5515

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

         Agriculture & Environment, February 19, 1997

 

Title:  An act relating to pesticide registration and licensing.

 

Brief Description:  Regulating pesticides.

 

Sponsors:  Senators Morton, Rasmussen and Swecker; by request of Department of Agriculture.

 

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Agriculture & Environment:  2/11/97, 2/19/97 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means:  3/6/97.

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT

 

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5515 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Morton, Chair; Swecker, Vice Chair; Fraser, McAuliffe, Newhouse, Oke and Rasmussen.

 

Staff:  Kari Guy (786-7437)

 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

 

Staff:  Cathy Baker (786-7708)

 

Background:  The Department of Agriculture is responsible for the registration of all pesticides used in the state, and the licensing of pesticide dealers and applicators.  Annual fees are established in statute for product registration and for each category of pesticide applicator.  Examinations are required for both pesticide dealers and applicators.  Recertification standards for pesticide applicators require continued education or testing every five years. 

 

Revenue generated by the pesticide registration fees and pesticide dealer and applicator license fees are deposited in the agriculture local fund.  This revenue is used to support the pesticide management program at the Department of Agriculture, which includes the following activities: product registration; inspection of manufacturers and distributors; pesticide use complaint investigation; applicator licensing and education; and field inspections and technical assistance for pesticide applicators.  The Department of Agriculture must report to the Legislature on the activities of the pesticide program by December 1 of each year.

 

The Department of Agriculture has suggested that past budget cuts and inflation have caused a decrease in personnel to the point where the pesticide program is not able to carry out its mandated activities.

 

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Standards for recertification of pesticide dealers are established.  In order to qualify for a continuing license every five years, a dealer must either accumulate training credits or meet examination requirements. 

 

The date for an annual report to the Legislature on the activities of the pesticide program of the Department of Agriculture is changed from December 1 to February 1 to allow for reporting of a full year's activities.

 

Money collected for civil penalties related to pesticide registration or pesticide application are deposited in the state general fund.

 

Fees for licensing of pesticide applicators and registration of pesticides are revised.  The fees for licensing of pesticide applicators and dealers are revised as follows:

 

License

Previous Fee

Revised Fee

Registration and License Fee Surcharge (added to each license fee)

$6

$0

Pesticide Dealers

$30

$50

Dealer Manager

$15

$25

Pest Control Inspector

$30

$45

Public Pest Control Consultant

$15

$25

Commercial Applicator

$136

$170

Each Commercial Applicator Apparatus, after the first

$11

$20

Commercial Operator

$33

$50

Private Commercial Applicator

$17

$25

Private Applicator

$17

$25

Research and Demonstration

$17

$25

Public Operator

$17

$25

 

The fees for pesticide registration are revised as follows:

 

Product Registration

Previous Fee

Revised Fee

Registration and License Fee Surcharge (added to each registration fee)

$6

$0

Each of the 1st through 25th Products

$105

$165

Each of the 26th through 100th Products

$100

$165

Each of the 101st through 150th Products

$75

$165

Each of the 151st Products and Beyond

$50

$165

Special Local Needs Registration

$200

$0

Home and Garden Use

$10

$0

 

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Money collected in civil penalties is deposited in the general fund rather than the agriculture local fund.

 

Appropriation:  None.

 

Fiscal Note:  Available.

 

Effective Date:  The bill contains several effective dates.  Please refer to the bill.

 

Testimony For:  The Department of Agriculture's pesticide program is facing an increased workload and increased costs.  The increased resources from this bill will enable the department to maintain a commitment to customer service, minimize risks from pesticide use, and increase responsiveness for technical assistance and ground water protection.  It is important to the agricultural industry to have a credible pesticide compliance program.

 

Testimony Against:  Forty-five percent of products registered are home products.  The increase in product registration fees should be limited to $130.

 

Testified:  Jim Jesernig, Director, Dept. of Agriculture; Mary Beth Lang, Dept. of Agriculture (pro); Steve Gano, Dan Coyne (pro); Mike Schwisow (pro); John Perkins (pro).