Senate Bill No. 14

Introduced By swysgood

By Request of the Department of Public Health and Human Services

A Bill for an Act entitled: "An Act transferring certain responsibilities related to vector-borne illness and pesticide registration from the department of environmental quality to the department of public health and human services; clarifying that the state laboratory is located within the department of public health and human services; allowing the department to set fees when necessary instead of annually; amending sections 7-22-2403, 7-22-2409, 7-22-2418, 40-1-206, 50-1-202, 75-6-106, and 80-8-201, MCA; and providing an effective date."

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana:

Section 1.  Section 7-22-2403, MCA, is amended to read:

"7-22-2403.   Petition to create mosquito control district -- hearing required. (1) When a petition, signed by not less than at least 25% of the qualified electors of the proposed district or 25% of the owners of any property within the boundaries whose names appear as property owners upon on the last-completed assessment roll of the county in which the proposed district is situated, is presented to the board of commissioners of the county asking for the creation of a mosquito control district, the commissioners shall set a day for a hearing on the petition and order notice of the hearing to be given to all persons interested.

(2)  The commissioners by resolution shall fix a time for a hearing upon on the petition at not less than 2 or more than 4 weeks from the time of presentation of the petition unless additional time is needed to prepare a survey and study as authorized by this subsection. Before setting a time for a hearing, the commissioners may cause a survey and study of the area sought to be included in the district to be made by competent personnel and may submit a report of the study to the department of environmental quality public health and human services for its review and recommendations."

Section 2.  Section 7-22-2409, MCA, is amended to read:

"7-22-2409.   Adjournment of hearing. (1) The hearing may be adjourned for determination of facts, but an adjournment may not exceed a total of 2 weeks in all from and after the date originally noticed and published for the hearing.

(2)  (a) If at the time of the hearing the commissioners find that a geographical area desires exclusion from the area contained within the boundaries of the proposed district, the hearing may be adjourned to permit the commissioners to consult the department of environmental quality public health and human services to determine if it would be advisable to exclude the geographical area from the district.

(b)  Upon reconvening, the commissioners shall define and establish the boundaries that are advisable."

Section 3.  Section 7-22-2418, MCA, is amended to read:

"7-22-2418.   Relationship of mosquito control districts and boards with department of environmental quality public health and human services and department of agriculture. (1) The department of environmental quality public health and human services shall advise the commissioners of a county with regard to the creation of mosquito control districts within the county and upon request advise the boards of the districts in connection with their control programs.

(2)  On or before February 1 of each year, the board of each district shall submit to the department of environmental quality public health and human services and the department of agriculture, for their review and advice, a written report of its operations for the preceding year and a written plan covering its control program for the ensuing year."

Section 4.  Section 40-1-206, MCA, is amended to read:

"40-1-206.   Premarital test -- approved laboratories -- rules. (1) For the purpose of 40-1-203 through 40-1-209, a standard serological test is a test for rubella immunity that is approved by the department of public health and human services.

(2)  The standard serological test is acceptable for the purposes of 40-1-203 through 40-1-209 only if it is performed by one of the following:

(a)  the laboratory of the department of environmental quality public health and human services;

(b)  a laboratory approved by the department of public health and human services;

(c)  a laboratory operated by any other state; or

(d)  a laboratory operated by the United States public health service or the United States armed forces.

(3)  The standard serological test may be made on request at the laboratory of the department of environmental quality public health and human services.

(4)  The department of public health and human services shall adopt reasonable rules for:

(a)  reports to be submitted by any laboratory making tests and the manner of furnishing the reports to the certifying physician and the state; and

(b)  exemptions, on medical grounds, from the premarital serological test."

Section 5.  Section 50-1-202, MCA, is amended to read:

"50-1-202.   General powers and duties. The department shall:

(1)  study conditions affecting the citizens of the state by making use of birth, death, and sickness records;

(2)  make investigations, disseminate information, and make recommendations for control of diseases and improvement of public health to persons, groups, or the public;

(3)  at the request of the governor, administer any federal health program for which responsibilities are delegated to states;

(4)  inspect and work in conjunction with custodial institutions and Montana university system units periodically as necessary and at other times on request of the governor;

(5)  after each inspection made under subsection (4), submit a written report on sanitary conditions to the governor and to the director of the department of corrections or the commissioner of higher education and include recommendations for improvement in conditions if necessary;

(6)  advise state agencies on location, drainage, water supply, disposal of excreta, heating, plumbing, sewer systems, and ventilation of public buildings;

(7)  develop and administer activities for the protection and improvement of dental health and supervise dentists employed by the state, local boards of health, or schools;

(8)  develop, adopt, and administer rules setting standards for participation in and operation of programs to protect the health of mothers and children, which rules may include programs for nutrition, family planning services, improved pregnancy outcome, and those authorized by Title X of the federal Public Health Service Act and Title V of the federal Social Security Act;

(9) conduct health education programs;

(10) provide consultation to school and local community health nurses in the performance of their duties;

(11) consult with the superintendent of public instruction on health measures for schools;

(12) develop, adopt, and administer rules setting standards for a program to provide services to handicapped children, including standards for:

(a)  diagnosis;

(b)  medical, surgical, and corrective treatment;

(c)  aftercare and related services; and

(d)  eligibility;

(13) provide consultation to local boards of health;

(14) bring actions in court for the enforcement of the health laws and defend actions brought against the board or department;

(15) accept and expend federal funds available for public health services;

(16) have the power to use personnel of local departments of health to assist in the administration of laws relating to public health;

(17) adopt rules imposing fees for the tests and services performed by the department's laboratory of the department of environmental quality. Fees, established on an annual basis, should reflect the actual costs of the tests or services provided. The department may not establish fees exceeding the costs incurred in performing tests and services. All fees must be deposited in the state special revenue fund for the use of the department in performing tests and services.

(18) adopt and enforce rules regarding the definition of communicable diseases and the reporting and control of communicable diseases;

(19) adopt and enforce rules regarding the transportation of dead human bodies; and

(20) adopt and enforce minimum sanitation requirements for tattooing as provided in 50-2-116, including regulation of premises, equipment, and methods of operation, solely oriented to the protection of public health and the prevention of communicable disease."

Section 6.  Section 75-6-106, MCA, is amended to read:

"75-6-106.   Licensing of laboratories. (1) No A laboratory analysis of water taken from a public water supply system or any report of such an analysis required by this part or a rule adopted under this part may not be accepted by the department or board unless the analysis or report is made by the department of public health and human services' laboratory of the department or by a laboratory licensed by the department of environmental quality for such water analysis purposes. The department shall issue a license to any laboratory that can meet criteria for licensing established in the rules adopted by the board.

(2)  An application for a license under this section shall must be made on forms furnished by the department.

(3)  A person aggrieved by a decision of the department to grant, deny, or revoke a license may appeal the department's decision to the board as provided in the Montana Administrative Procedure Act."

Section 7.  Section 80-8-201, MCA, is amended to read:

"80-8-201.   Registration. (1) Each pesticide distributed, sold, or offered for sale within the state or delivered for transportation or transported in intrastate commerce or between points within the state must be registered with the department. The registration must be renewed annually by the manufacturer, formulator, or distributor of the pesticide. The department shall register all federally approved pesticides, and those registered are subject to registration fees and all other provisions of this chapter. All registrations of pesticides expire on December 31 following the date of issuance unless otherwise terminated.

(2)  The applicant for registration shall file with the department a statement that includes:

(a)  the name and address of the applicant and the name and address of the person whose name will appear on the label, if other than the registrant;

(b)  a complete copy of the label of the pesticide, the United States environmental protection agency registration number if the pesticide is registered, and a statement of all claims to be made for it, including directions for use;

(c)  the trade and chemical name of the pesticide;

(d)  if requested by the department, a full description of tests made and the results upon which the claims are based. In the case of renewal of registration, a statement is required only for information that is different from that furnished when the pesticide was registered or last reregistered.

(3)  A pesticide imported into the state that is subject to and has been registered under the provisions of a federal act providing for the registration of pesticides must be registered in the state. However, the state may restrict the sale or use and application of the pesticide by type of dealer, applicator, time, and place and may establish special registrations of pesticides as outlined in 80-8-105(3) and in subsection (8) of this section. The annual registration fee must also be paid, and registration information required by the department must be provided.

(4)  The applicant shall pay an annual fee of $70 for each pesticide registered. A registration fee is not required to register a federally approved experimental use permit.

(5)  The department may require the submission of the complete formula and certified analytical standards of any pesticide. If it appears to the department that the composition of the pesticide warrants the proposed claims for it and if the pesticide, its labeling, and other material required to be submitted comply with the requirements of 80-8-202, the department shall register the pesticide.

(6)  If it does not appear to the department that the pesticide warrants the proposed claims for it or if the pesticide, its labeling, and other material required to be submitted do not comply with this chapter, the department shall notify the applicant of the manner in which the pesticide, labeling, or other material required to be submitted fails to comply with the chapter to provide the applicant an opportunity to make the necessary corrections. If the applicant does not make the corrections upon receipt of the notice, the department may refuse to register the pesticide. The department may suspend or cancel the registration of a pesticide whenever it does not appear that the pesticide or its labeling comply with this chapter or whenever scientific evidence proves that the pesticide endangers humans or the general environment afforded protection under 80-8-105(3)(a). When an application for registration is refused or the department proposes to suspend or cancel a registration, the registrant may pursue administrative remedies under the Montana Administrative Procedure Act and rules of the department.

(7)  Registration is not required in the case of a pesticide shipped from one plant in the state to another plant in the state by the same person.

(8)  (a) The department, the department of environmental quality public health and human services, and the department of fish, wildlife, and parks shall review all applications for registration of an experimental-use permit or a registration for special local needs. The applicant shall pay a one-time fee of $70 for a special local need or experimental-use permit registration. The departments shall utilize use the same requirements and standards for reviewing registrations established by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended, and regulations adopted under the act. The department shall provide the departments of environmental quality public health and human services and fish, wildlife, and parks with a complete copy of the application, related correspondence, and a statement of the department's proposed action on the application. The department, the department of environmental quality public health and human services, and the department of fish, wildlife, and parks shall approve or disapprove the application within 10 days after the receipt of the application. If the department, the department of environmental quality public health and human services, and the department of fish, wildlife, and parks are in agreement with the proposed registration, the department shall issue the registration.

(b)  The department shall establish a time and place for an interagency conference for the purposes of resolving the registration of any pesticide or device. If two of the departments approve the proposed registration, the department shall issue the registration.

(c)  The registrant applying for registration must be notified as to proposed changes in registration. If the departments cannot resolve the proposed registration following the interagency conference, the registrant may request a joint administrative hearing before the departments of agriculture, environmental quality public health and human services, and fish, wildlife, and parks.

(d)  Following the interagency conference and, if requested, the administrative hearing, if the proposed registration of a pesticide or device has not been resolved, the department of agriculture shall appoint an advisory council as outlined in 80-8-108 to resolve by majority vote the registration of any pesticide. The advisory council's recommendations on the registration must be accepted by the departments and implemented by the department of agriculture.

(9)  (a) Pesticides registered under any federal law when canceled for sale and use in total or in part by a federal agency responsible for registration are considered canceled in total or in part for sale and use in Montana. The cancellation is effective on the final date of sale or use allowed under the federal law and rules or orders of the federal agency. Except as provided in subsection (9)(b), if the federal cancellation allows existing stock to be used past the final date of cancellation, the sale or use in this state may not exceed 2 years. The department shall provide technical assistance to any person in possession of the products to ensure their proper disposal, relabeling, or removal.

(b)  Pesticide products canceled under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. 136a-1(i)(5) may be sold and used according to environmental protection agency labeling requirements or other requirements for a period not to exceed 6 years from the date that distribution from the registrant, manufacturer, formulator, or distributor is terminated."

NEW SECTION. Section 8.  Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 1997.

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