SF 550

1st Engrossment - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 04/20/2013 10:55am

A bill for an act
relating to agriculture; updating pesticide applicator education and certification;
requiring reports; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 18B.305.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 18B.305, is amended to read:

18B.305 PESTICIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING.

Subdivision 1.

Education and training.

(a) The commissioner new text begin , as the lead agency,
new text end shall develop, new text begin implement or approve, and evaluate, new text end in deleted text begin conjunction deleted text end new text begin consultation new text end with the
University of Minnesota Extension Service new text begin , the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
system, and other educational institutions new text end , innovative educational and training programs
addressing pesticide concerns including:

(1) water quality protection;

(2) endangered species new text begin protection new text end ;

(3) new text begin minimizing new text end pesticide residues in food and water;

(4) worker protection new text begin and applicator safety new text end ;

(5) chronic toxicity;

(6) integrated pest management new text begin and pest resistance new text end ; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(7) pesticide disposal new text begin ;
new text end

new text begin (8) pesticide drift;
new text end

new text begin (9) relevant laws including pesticide labels and labeling and state and federal rules
and regulations; and
new text end

new text begin (10) current science and technology updates new text end .

(b) The commissioner shall appoint educational planning committees which must
include representatives of industry new text begin and applicators new text end .

(c) Specific current regulatory concerns must be discussed and, if appropriate,
incorporated into each training session. new text begin Relevant changes to pesticide product labels or
labeling or state and federal rules and regulations may be included.
new text end

(d) The commissioner may approve programs from private industry new text begin , higher
education institutions, new text end and nonprofit organizations that meet minimum requirements for
education, training, and certification.

Subd. 2.

Training manual and examination development.

The commissioner, in
deleted text begin conjunction deleted text end new text begin consultation new text end with the University of Minnesota Extension Service new text begin and other
higher education institutions new text end , shall continually revise and update pesticide applicator
training manuals and examinations. The manuals and examinations must be written to meet
or exceed the minimum standards required by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency and pertinent state specific information. Questions in the examinations must be
determined by the new text begin commissioner in consultation with other new text end responsible agencies. Manuals
and examinations must include pesticide management practices that discuss prevention of
pesticide occurrence in deleted text begin groundwaters deleted text end new text begin groundwater and surface water new text end of the state.

Sec. 2. new text begin UPDATE REQUIRED; REPORT.
new text end

new text begin No later than December 31, 2017, the commissioner of agriculture must use
existing pesticide regulatory account resources to update and modify applicator education
and training materials as required in section 1. No later than January 15, 2015, the
commissioner must report to the legislative committees and divisions with jurisdiction over
agriculture policy and finance regarding the agency's progress and a schedule of additional
activities the commissioner will accomplish to meet the December 31, 2017, deadline.
new text end