2006 Minnesota Statutes

18B.305 PESTICIDE EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
    Subdivision 1. Education and training. (a) The commissioner shall develop, in conjunction
with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, innovative educational and training programs
addressing pesticide concerns including:
(1) water quality protection;
(2) endangered species;
(3) pesticide residues in food and water;
(4) worker protection;
(5) chronic toxicity;
(6) integrated pest management; and
(7) pesticide disposal.
(b) The commissioner shall appoint educational planning committees which must include
representatives of industry.
(c) Specific current regulatory concerns must be discussed and, if appropriate, incorporated
into each training session.
(d) The commissioner may approve programs from private industry and nonprofit
organizations that meet minimum requirements for education, training, and certification.
    Subd. 2. Training manual and examination development. The commissioner, in
conjunction with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, 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 responsible agencies. Manuals and examinations must
include pesticide management practices that discuss prevention of pesticide occurrence in
groundwaters of the state.
    Subd. 3. Pesticide Applicator Education and Examination Review Board. (a) The
commissioner shall establish and chair a Pesticide Applicator Education and Examination Review
Board. This board, consisting of 15 members, must meet at least once a year before the initiation
of pesticide educational planning programs. The purpose of the board is to discuss topics of
current concern that can be incorporated into pesticide applicator training sessions and appropriate
examinations. This board shall review and evaluate the various educational programs recently
conducted and recommend options to increase overall effectiveness.
(b) Membership on this board must include applicators representing various licensing
categories, such as agriculture, turf and ornamental, aerial, aquatic, and structural pest control
and private pesticide applicators, and other governmental agencies, including the University
of Minnesota, the Pollution Control Agency, Department of Health, Department of Natural
Resources, and Department of Transportation.
(c) Membership on the board must include representatives from environmental protection
organizations.
(d) This board shall review licensing and certification requirements for private, commercial,
and noncommercial applicators. This board shall review category requirements and provide
recommendations to the commissioner. This board expires on June 30, 2003.
History: 1989 c 326 art 5 s 34; 1997 c 192 s 13; 2001 c 161 s 8