Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that scientific research has played an important role in informing and advancing public policy in many areas, including health, education, early childhood development, and environmental and wildlife protection.
(1) The legislature also finds that organophosphate pesticides, such as chlorpyrifos, above certain levels may harm aquatic habitats and aquatic organisms, including salmon.
(2) In addition, the legislature finds that scientific research has identified early childhood as a critical period of intervention during which children develop the foundation for educational achievement. Young children are especially vulnerable to environmental contaminants and toxic stress.
(3) Chlorpyrifos and other organophosphate pesticides affect the nervous system through inhibition of cholinesterase, an enzyme required for proper nerve functioning.
(4) Children experience greater exposure to chlorpyrifos pesticides because, relative to adults, they eat, drink, and breathe more in proportion to their body weight. Because of this concern, the federal food quality protection act requires a tenfold margin of safety in the registration of pesticides to protect infants and children.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter
17.21 RCW to read as follows:
The director must adopt emergency rules that take effect by January 1, 2022, that include specific control measures for chlorpyrifos that are designed to reduce emissions sufficiently so the public is not subject to levels of exposure that may cause or contribute to significant adverse health effects.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, Washington State University shall provide the Washington state commission on pesticide registration with funding to work with agricultural grower groups presently using chlorpyrifos to research alternative pest control strategies.
(2) Additional funding must be provided to the department of agriculture for training and enforcement of the Washington pesticide application act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2020, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void."
Removes intent language that addresses impacts of chlorpyrifos to salmon and removes certain intent language addressing impacts of chlorpyrifos to children and pregnant women.
Replaces intent language referencing prenatal exposure to chlorpyrifos with language that recognizes the margin of safety required by the federal Food Quality Protection Act to protect infants and children.
Removes the prohibition, exemptions, and conditions where chlorpyrifos may be used, and instead requires the Director of the Department of Agriculture (WSDA) to adopt emergency rules that include specific control measures for chlorpyrifos. Adopted rules must take effect by January 1, 2022, and must be designed to reduce emissions sufficiently so the public is not subject to levels of exposure that may cause or contribute to adverse health effects.
Removes the requirement that the Department of Ecology develop water quality standards that are sufficient to protect aquatic life and ensure chlorpyrifos pollution of surface water will not impact groundwater or result in injury to children or pregnant women.
Removes the requirement that the Department of Health and Board of Health develop and adopt maximum contaminant levels for chlorpyrifos in Group A water systems.
Provides that funding directed to the WSDA is for training and enforcement of the Washington Pesticide Application Act instead of the Washington Pesticide Control Act.