Bill Text: MN SF550 | 2013-2014 | 88th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Pesticide applicator education and certification update requirements
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-13 - Comm report: To pass as amended and re-refer to Finance [SF550 Detail]
Download: Minnesota-2013-SF550-Engrossed.html
1.2relating to agriculture; updating pesticide applicator education and certification;
1.3requiring reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 18B.305.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 18B.305, is amended to read:
1.618B.305 PESTICIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
1.7 Subdivision 1. Education and training. (a) The commissioner, as the lead agency,
1.8 shall develop, implement or approve, and evaluate, inconjunction consultation with the
1.9University of Minnesota Extension Service, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
1.10system, and other educational institutions, innovative educational and training programs
1.11addressing pesticide concerns including:
1.12(1) water quality protection;
1.13(2) endangered species protection;
1.14(3) minimizing pesticide residues in food and water;
1.15(4) worker protection and applicator safety;
1.16(5) chronic toxicity;
1.17(6) integrated pest management and pest resistance;and
1.18(7) pesticide disposal;
1.19(8) pesticide drift;
1.20(9) relevant laws including pesticide labels and labeling and state and federal rules
1.21and regulations; and
1.22(10) current science and technology updates.
1.23(b) The commissioner shall appoint educational planning committees which must
1.24include representatives of industry and applicators.
2.1(c) Specific current regulatory concerns must be discussed and, if appropriate,
2.2incorporated into each training session. Relevant changes to pesticide product labels or
2.3labeling or state and federal rules and regulations may be included.
2.4(d) The commissioner may approve programs from private industry, higher
2.5education institutions, and nonprofit organizations that meet minimum requirements for
2.6education, training, and certification.
2.7 Subd. 2. Training manual and examination development. The commissioner, in
2.8conjunction consultation with the University of Minnesota Extension Service and other
2.9higher education institutions, shall continually revise and update pesticide applicator
2.10training manuals and examinations. The manuals and examinations must be written to meet
2.11or exceed the minimum standards required by the United States Environmental Protection
2.12Agency and pertinent state specific information. Questions in the examinations must be
2.13determined by the commissioner in consultation with other responsible agencies. Manuals
2.14and examinations must include pesticide management practices that discuss prevention of
2.15pesticide occurrence ingroundwaters groundwater and surface water of the state.
2.16 Sec. 2. UPDATE REQUIRED; REPORT.
2.17No later than December 31, 2017, the commissioner of agriculture must use
2.18existing pesticide regulatory account resources to update and modify applicator education
2.19and training materials as required in section 1. No later than January 15, 2015, the
2.20commissioner must report to the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over
2.21agriculture policy and finance regarding the agency's progress and a schedule of additional
2.22activities the commissioner will accomplish to meet the December 31, 2017, deadline.
1.3requiring reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 18B.305.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 18B.305, is amended to read:
1.618B.305 PESTICIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
1.7 Subdivision 1. Education and training. (a) The commissioner, as the lead agency,
1.8 shall develop, implement or approve, and evaluate, in
1.9University of Minnesota Extension Service, the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
1.10system, and other educational institutions, innovative educational and training programs
1.11addressing pesticide concerns including:
1.12(1) water quality protection;
1.13(2) endangered species protection;
1.14(3) minimizing pesticide residues in food and water;
1.15(4) worker protection and applicator safety;
1.16(5) chronic toxicity;
1.17(6) integrated pest management and pest resistance;
1.18(7) pesticide disposal;
1.19(8) pesticide drift;
1.20(9) relevant laws including pesticide labels and labeling and state and federal rules
1.21and regulations; and
1.22(10) current science and technology updates.
1.23(b) The commissioner shall appoint educational planning committees which must
1.24include representatives of industry and applicators.
2.1(c) Specific current regulatory concerns must be discussed and, if appropriate,
2.2incorporated into each training session. Relevant changes to pesticide product labels or
2.3labeling or state and federal rules and regulations may be included.
2.4(d) The commissioner may approve programs from private industry, higher
2.5education institutions, and nonprofit organizations that meet minimum requirements for
2.6education, training, and certification.
2.7 Subd. 2. Training manual and examination development. The commissioner, in
2.8
2.9higher education institutions, shall continually revise and update pesticide applicator
2.10training manuals and examinations. The manuals and examinations must be written to meet
2.11or exceed the minimum standards required by the United States Environmental Protection
2.12Agency and pertinent state specific information. Questions in the examinations must be
2.13determined by the commissioner in consultation with other responsible agencies. Manuals
2.14and examinations must include pesticide management practices that discuss prevention of
2.15pesticide occurrence in
2.16 Sec. 2. UPDATE REQUIRED; REPORT.
2.17No later than December 31, 2017, the commissioner of agriculture must use
2.18existing pesticide regulatory account resources to update and modify applicator education
2.19and training materials as required in section 1. No later than January 15, 2015, the
2.20commissioner must report to the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over
2.21agriculture policy and finance regarding the agency's progress and a schedule of additional
2.22activities the commissioner will accomplish to meet the December 31, 2017, deadline.
