BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 1332
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 2, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    SB 1332 (Wolk) - As Amended:  April 21, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                             Environmental  
          Safety and Toxic Materials                    Vote: 6-1

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires the California Department of Pesticide  
          Regulation (DPR) to adopt and enforce regulations for the use of  
          carbon monoxide (CO) pest control devices.  Specifically, this  
          bill: 

          1)Requires the DPR Director to adopt and enforce regulations to  
            provide for the proper, safe, and efficient use of CO pest  
            control devices.  

          2)Defines a CO pest control device as any method or instrument  
            using CO to prevent, eliminate, destroy or mitigate burrowing  
            rodent pests.

          3)Clarifies that violations may result in misdemeanor  
            prosecution by the Director or civil penalties levied by the  
            Director or a county agricultural commissioner.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          1)DPR rulemaking costs are absorbable.  

          2)Potential unknown revenue increases resulting from civil  
            penalties

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   According to DPR, the growing popularity of CO  
            pest control devices, including the use on school grounds  
            necessitates the development of guidelines. CO devices may be  
            a safer alternative for pest control, however, if used  








                                                                  SB 1332
                                                                  Page  2

            improperly CO may be deadly.

            This bill requires DPR to adopt and enforce regulations on CO  
            pest control devices.    

           2)Background.   AB 634 (Huber, Chapter 704, Statues of 2011)  
            allowed for the use of CO pest control devices.  The law was  
            placed in Food and Agricultural Code Section 602.5, which is  
            not under the purview of the DPR.  According to the DPR, since  
            the passage of AB 634, interest in using carbon monoxide  
            devices for pest control has increased.  Initially, these  
            devices were designed for farmers and ranchers for use in wide  
            open spaces.  However, manufacturers are now marketing the  
            devices to schools, local governments and park districts as a  
            cost-effective way to control rodents. 

             Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
            319-2081