BILL NUMBER: AB 967	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ma

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Section 11501 of the Food and Agricultural Code,
relating to pesticides.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 967, as introduced, Ma. Pesticides: safety.
   Existing law provides that the purpose of certain statutes
relating to pesticides is to provide for the proper, safe, and
efficient use of pesticides, protect the environment, assure worker
safety, permit control of licensees by the Director of Pesticide
Regulation and county commissioners, assure consumers of proper and
appropriate labeling, and encourage pest management systems.
   This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes in that
provision.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 11501 of the Food and Agricultural Code is
amended to read:
   11501.  The purposes of this division and Chapter 1 (commencing
with Section 12501), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12751),
Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 14001), and Chapter 3.5
(commencing with Section 14101) of Division 7 are as follows:
   (a) To provide for the proper, safe, and efficient use of
pesticides  that are  essential for production of food and
fiber and for protection of the public health and safety.
   (b) To protect the environment from environmentally harmful
pesticides by prohibiting, regulating, or ensuring proper stewardship
of those pesticides.
   (c) To  assure   ensure  the
agricultural and pest control workers of safe working conditions
where pesticides are present.
   (d) To permit agricultural pest control by competent and
responsible licensees and permittees under strict control of the
director and commissioners.
   (e) To  assure   ensure  consumers and
users that pesticides are properly labeled and are appropriate for
the use designated by the label and that state or local governmental
dissemination of information on pesticidal uses of any registered
pesticide product is consistent with the uses for which the product
is registered.
   (f) To encourage the development and implementation of pest
management systems, stressing application of biological and cultural
pest control techniques with selective pesticides when necessary to
achieve acceptable levels of control with the least possible harm to
nontarget organisms and the environment.