Title: An act relating to recertification standards for private applicators of pesticides.

Brief Description: Modifying recertification standards for private applicators of pesticides.

Sponsors: Representatives Eickmeyer, B. Sullivan, Hinkle, Haler and Newhouse.

Brief History:

Economic Development, Agriculture & Trade: 2/4/05, 2/11/05 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AGRICULTURE & TRADE

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 23 members: Representatives Linville, Chair; Pettigrew, Vice Chair; Kristiansen, Ranking Minority Member; Skinner, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Buri, Chase, Clibborn, Condotta, Dunn, Grant, Haler, Holmquist, Kenney, Kilmer, Kretz, McCoy, Morrell, Newhouse, Quall, Strow, P. Sullivan and Wallace.

Staff: Meg Van Schoorl (786-7105).

Background:

The Pesticide Management Division of the Department of Agriculture (Department) licenses and certifies pesticide applicators, dealers and consultants. There are several different types of pesticide applicators, and the specific licensing requirements for each depends upon who the employer is and what type of pest control work will be performed.

A private applicator of pesticides is a person who uses or supervises the use of restricted use pesticides for the production of any agricultural commodity on property owned or rented by him or his employer. A private applicator must be licensed, and the license must be renewed each year that the applicator performs work that requires a license. In addition, in order to maintain the license, a private applicator must complete re-certification requirements every five years. Re-certification can be satisfied either by examination or by attending Department-approved courses.

A private applicator who chooses to be re-certified by taking approved courses must accumulate 20 credits within the five-year cycle. Under current law, a private applicator may accumulate no more than eight credits per year.

Summary of Bill:

A private applicator who chooses to be re-certified by taking approved courses may accumulate no more than 12 credits per year.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: (Neutral) The Department is unaware of the reasons prompting the proposed increase in annual maximum course credits. Of 15,000 licensed private applicators, 90 percent choose course work rather than testing to satisfy the re-certification requirement. About half of the licensees finished their re-certification cycle in 2004, and the Department did not hear complaints about the existing standards. A 13-member task force convened by the Department in 1996 to review the re-certification program considered revisions to the standards, and reached a consensus at that time that the standards were reasonable, necessary, and flexible. Any changes to the credits will affect 15,000 private applicators.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: (Neutral) Mary Beth Lang, Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.