BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2892
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 4, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
AB
2892 (Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials) - As Introduced
February 29, 2016
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Policy |Environmental Safety and Toxic |Vote:|6 - 0 |
|Committee: |Materials | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill extends the sunset on the requirement for laboratories
to electronically transmit specified agricultural worker
pesticide exposure test results to the Department of Pesticide
Regulation (DPR) under the California Medical Supervision
Program from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2019.
FISCAL EFFECT:
1) Increased costs for the Office of Environmental Health
AB 2892
Page 2
Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to review cholinesterase tests in
the range of $300,000 and $450,000 (GF or special fund)
over the extended two-year period.
2) Minor, absorbable DPR costs.
COMMENTS:
1)Purpose. The California Medical Supervision Program (Program)
is designed to protect workers who regularly mix, load, or
apply highly toxic pesticides. In order to ensure the Program
is effective, agricultural worker pesticide exposure data
(cholinesterase test results) are transmitted to DPR. This
data transmission requirement sunsets on January 1, 2017.
This bill extends the sunset to January 1, 2019, so the state
can continue to effectively evaluate and manage the Program.
1)Background. While the Program had been in existence for more
than 30 years, prior to 2010, the state received very little
information from the field to determine whether the Program
was effective. AB 1963 (Nava), Chapter 369, Statues of 2010,
added the requirement for laboratories that conduct
cholinesterase tests to report results to DPR. The results are
then analyzed by DPR and OEHHA, in consultation with the DPH.
1)DPR report. In December 2015, DPR and OEHHA released a
report, California's Cholinesterase Test Results Reporting and
the Medical Supervision Program, which found overall, the
Program appear to be effective in protecting agricultural
workers who handle cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides. The
report also found that the utility of the data analysis is
hampered by missing data and the inclusion of records from
individuals not in the program. The Report makes a series of
AB 2892
Page 3
recommendations including extending the reporting requirement.
This bill is intended as a vehicle to implement report
recommendations once approved by the Administration.
Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)
319-2081