H-1452

AN ACT Relating to integrated pest management; and adding a new chapter to Title 17 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature declares that it is the policy of the state of Washington to require all state agencies that have pest control responsibilities to follow the principles of integrated pest management.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

(1) "Integrated pest management" means a coordinated decision-making and action process that uses the most appropriate pest control methods and strategy in an environmentally and economically sound manner to meet agency programmatic pest management objectives. The elements of integrated pest management include:

(a) Preventing pest problems;

(b) Monitoring for the presence of pests and pest damage;

(c) Establishing the density of the pest population, that may be set at zero, that can be tolerated or correlated with a damage level sufficient to warrant treatment of the problem based on health, public safety, economic, or aesthetic thresholds;

(d) Treating pest problems to reduce populations below those levels established by damage thresholds using strategies that may include biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical control methods and that must consider human health, ecological impact, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness; and

(e) Evaluating the effects and efficacy of pest treatments.

(2) "Pest" means a vertebrate or invertebrate animal, pathogen, parasitic plant, weed, or similar or allied organism that can cause disease or damage to crops, trees, shrubs, grasses, or other plants, humans, animals, or property.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Each of the following state agencies or institutions shall implement integrated pest management practices when carrying out the agency's or institution's duties related to pest control:

(1) The department of agriculture;

(2) The state noxious weed control board;

(3) The department of ecology;

(4) The department of fish and wildlife;

(5) The department of transportation;

(6) The parks and recreation commission;

(7) The department of natural resources;

(8) The department of corrections;

(9) The department of general administration; and

(10) Each state institution of higher education, for the institution's own building and grounds maintenance.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) A state agency or institution listed in section 3 of this act shall provide integrated pest management training for employees responsible for pest management. The training programs shall be developed in cooperation with the interagency integrated pest management coordinating committee created under section 5 of this act.

(2) A state agency or institution listed in section 3 of this act shall designate an integrated pest management coordinator and the department of labor and industries and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall each designate one representative to serve on the committee established in section 5 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The interagency integrated pest management coordinating committee is created. The committee is composed of the integrated pest management coordinator from each agency or institution listed under section 3 of this act and the representatives designated under section 4 of this act. The coordinator from the department of agriculture shall serve as chair of the committee.

(2) The interagency integrated pest management coordinating committee shall advise the state agencies and institutions and facilitate interagency coordination. The committee shall review each state agency's or institution's integrated pest management program and provide comments on the adherence of the program to integrated pest management as defined in section 2 of this act.

(3) The interagency integrated pest management coordinating committee shall meet at least two times a year. All meetings of the committee must be open to the public. The committee shall give public notice of each meeting.

(4) By November 30th of each odd-numbered year, the department of agriculture, with the advice of the interagency integrated pest management coordinating committee, shall report on the progress of integrated pest management programs, with comments on their adherence to integrated pest management as defined in section 2 of this act, to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the appropriate legislative committees.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Sections 1 through 5 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 17 RCW.