BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2122
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Date of Hearing: April 20, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY AND TOXIC MATERIALS
Pedro Nava, Chair
AB 2122 (Mendoza) - As Amended April 15, 2010
SUBJECT : Pest control advisors (PCA) licensure.
SUMMARY : Modifies the continuing education (CE) requirements
of the Department of Pesticide Regulations (DPR) for PCAs.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes DPR to approve continuing education training for
PCAs to include the following subjects related to pest
management and plant health:
a) Organic and sustainable practices,
b) Water and air monitoring,
c) Residue mitigation and maximum allowable residue,
d) Crop quarantine practices; and,
e) On-farm storage of fumigants.
2)Requires the Director of DPR to act within 15 days of
receiving a request for approval of PCA CE courses.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires a person acting as a PCA to be licensed by DPR. The
license cannot be renewed unless the holder has completed
certain minimum continuing education hours relating to
pesticides or pest management within each two-year license or
certification period.
2)Requires DPR to review and approve the course material offered
to meet the continuing education requirements.
FISCAL EFFECT : Not known.
COMMENTS :
Need for the bill. "According to the author of the bill County
Pest Control Advisor groups provide continuing education classes
both for their members as well as licensed applicators. This is
done largely on a volunteer basis. Because continuing education
courses are provided by volunteers, it is difficult to create
and implement standards. The Department of Pesticide Regulation
AB 2122
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(DPR) needs to address current pest management practices related
to authorizing continuing education requirements. Licensees in
California have numerous regulatory responsibilities to provide
safeguards to the public, the environment and employees when
selecting permitted products to provide effective pest
management. DPR needs to consider additional continuing
education unit opportunities."
Continuing education for pest control advisors . According to
DPR, continuing education for PCAs includes educational classes,
workshops, seminars, tours, conferences, etc. that teach pest
control licensees and certificate holders information on pest
management and pesticides.
CE subjects must focus on pesticide and pest management topics
that may include: laws and regulations, safety, pest
identification, surface water, groundwater and air quality
issues, calibration of equipment, labeling requirements, etc.
All CE classes must be pre-approved by DPR in order to be used
for CE credit by license and certificate holders.
The purpose of continuing education is to ensure license and
certificate holders to keep their knowledge current in the area
of pest control laws and regulations; provide proper, safe and
efficient pesticide use; protect the public health, environment
and property; and encourage safe working conditions for
agricultural and pest control workers. CE recertification helps
ensure competency and is in lieu of re-examination.
15 days to review CE plans . This bill requires DPR to review
and take action on CE course material in 15days from receiving
the material. There are two issues created by this mandate.
First, the current 30 day requirement for training document
submission may be a reasonable amount of time to actually review
material. Secondly, the bill fails to indicate what the effect
of not meeting the 15 day deadline would be.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Association of Pest Control Advisors (sponsor)
Opposition
AB 2122
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None received.
Analysis Prepared by : Bob Fredenburg / E.S. & T.M. / (916)
319-3965