2017 Montana Legislature

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HOUSE BILL NO. 126

INTRODUCED BY R. SHAW

BY REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

 

AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING THE MONTANA PESTICIDES ACT; REVISING PESTICIDE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS; REVISING CERTAIN DEFINITIONS, FEES, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS, COMMERCIAL OPERATORS, DEALERS, FARM APPLICATORS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES; PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL FEES FOR CERTAIN CERTIFICATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS; CLARIFYING PESTICIDE DEALER REQUIREMENTS; REVISING THE METHODS OF SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS; EXTENDING THE INTEGRATED PEST AND PESTICIDE MANAGEMENT SAFETY PROGRAM TO OTHER FACILITIES; EXTENDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AMENDING SECTIONS 80-8-102, 80-8-107, 80-8-111, 80-8-201, 80-8-203, 80-8-207, 80-8-209, 80-8-213, 80-8-302, 80-8-303, 80-8-401, 80-8-404, AND 80-15-302, MCA; REPEALING SECTION 80-8-214, MCA; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

 

     Section 1.  Section 80-8-102, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-102.  Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, in this chapter, the following definitions apply:

     (1)  "Active ingredient" means:

     (a)  in the case of a pesticide, other than a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant, an ingredient that will prevent, destroy, repel, alter life processes, or mitigate insects, nematodes, fungi, rodents, weeds, or other pests;

     (b)  in the case of a plant regulator, an ingredient that acts upon the physiology to accelerate or retard the rate of growth or rate of maturation or otherwise alter the normal processes of ornamental or crop plants or their produce;

     (c)  in the case of a defoliant, an ingredient that will cause the leaves or foliage to drop from a plant;

     (d)  in the case of a desiccant, an ingredient that will artificially accelerate the drying of plant tissue.

     (2)  "Adulterated" applies to a pesticide if its strength of purity falls below the professed standard or quality as expressed on labeling or under which it is sold, if any substance has been substituted wholly or in part for the pesticide, or if any valuable constituent of the pesticide has been wholly or in part abstracted.

     (3)  "Antidote" means the most practical immediate treatment in case of poisoning and includes first-aid treatment.

     (4)(3)  "Applicator" means a person who applies pesticides by any method.

     (5)  "Beneficial insects" means those insects that, in the course of their life cycle, carry, transmit, or spread pollen to and from vegetation, act as parasites and predators on other insects, or are otherwise beneficial.

     (4) "Beneficial insects" means those insects that, in the course of their life cycle, carry, transmit, or spread pollen to and from vegetation, act as parasites and predators on other insects, or are otherwise beneficial.

     (6)(5)  "Commercial applicator" means a person who by contract or for hire applies by aerial, ground, or hand equipment pesticides to land, plants, seed, animals, waters, structures, or vehicles.

     (7)(6)  "Commercial operator" means a person who applies pesticides under the supervision of a commercial applicator.

     (8)(7)  "Crop" means a food intended for human or animal consumption or a fiber product.

     (9)(8)  "Dealer" means a person who sells, wholesales, offers or exposes for sale, exchanges, barters, or gives away within this state any pesticide except those pesticides that are to be used for home, yard, garden, home orchard, shade trees, ornamental trees, bushes, and lawn.

     (10)(9) "Defoliant" means a substance or mixture of substances for causing the leaves or foliage to drop from a plant, with or without causing abscission.

     (11)(10) "Desiccant" means a substance or mixture of substances for artificially accelerating the drying of plant tissue.

     (12)(11) (a) "Device" means any instrument or contrivance intended for destroying, controlling, repelling, or mitigating pests.

     (b)  The term does not include equipment used for the application of pesticides.

     (13)(12) "Environment" means the soil, air, water, plants, and animals.

     (14)(13) "Equipment" means equipment used in the actual application of pesticides, including aircraft, ground sprayers and dusters, hand-held applicators, and water surface equipment.

     (15)(14) "Farm applicator" means a person applying pesticides to the person's own crops or land.

     (16)(15) "Fungi" means all nonchlorophyll-bearing thallophytes (all nonchlorophyll-bearing plants of a lower order than mosses and liverworts), such as rusts, smuts, mildews, molds, and yeasts, and bacteria, except those resident on or in living humans or other animals.

     (17) "Fungicide" means a substance or mixture of substances for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any fungus.

     (18)(16) "Herbicide" means a substance or mixture of substances for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any weed.

     (19)(17) "Inert ingredient" means an ingredient that is not an active ingredient.

     (20)(18) "Ingredient statement" means either:

     (a)  a statement of the chemical name and common name and percentage of each active ingredient, together with the total percentage of the inert ingredients, in the pesticide; or

     (b)  a statement of the chemical name and common name of each active ingredient, together with the name of each and total percentage of the inert ingredients, if any, in the pesticide. However, subsection (20)(a) (18)(a) applies if the preparation is highly toxic to humans, determined as provided in 80-8-105, and if. If the pesticide contains arsenic in any form, the ingredient statement must also include a statement of the percentage of total and water-soluble arsenic, each calculated as elemental arsenic.

     (21)(19) "Insect" means any of the numerous small invertebrate animals generally having the body more or less obviously segmented, for the most part belonging to the class insecta, comprising six-legged, winged and wingless forms, such as beetles, bugs, wasps, flies, and keds, and to other classes of arthropods whose members are wingless and usually have more than six legs, such as spiders, mites, ticks, centipedes, and wood lice.

     (22)(20) "Insecticide" means any substance or mixture of substances for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any insects present in any environment.

     (23)(21) "Label" means the written, printed, or graphic matter on or attached to the pesticide or device or to its immediate container and any outside container or wrapper of any retail package of the pesticide or device.

     (24)(22) "Labeling" means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter:

     (a)  upon on the pesticide or device or any of its containers or wrappers;

     (b)  accompanying the pesticide or device at any time;

     (c)  to which reference is made on the label or in literature accompanying the pesticide or device, except when accurate, nonmisleading reference is made to current official publications of:

     (i)  the United States environmental protection agency;

     (ii) federal departments of agriculture, interior, or health and human services;

     (iii) state experiment stations;

     (iv) state agricultural colleges; or

     (v)  other similar federal institutions or official agencies of this state or other states authorized by law to conduct research in the field of pesticides.

     (25)(23) "Misbranded" applies:

     (a)  to a pesticide or device if its labeling bears any statement, design, or graphic representation relative to its ingredients that is false or misleading;

     (b)  to a pesticide if:

     (i)  it is an imitation of or is offered for sale under the name of another pesticide;

     (ii) its labeling bears any reference to registration under this chapter fails to bear the necessary information required by this chapter;

     (iii) the labeling accompanying it does not contain instructions for use necessary and, if complied with, adequate for the protection of the public that when followed provide adequate public protection;

     (iv) the label does not contain a warning or caution statement necessary and, if complied with, adequate to prevent injury to living humans or undue hazard to the environment;

     (v)  the label of the retail package that is presented or displayed under customary conditions of purchase does not bear an ingredient statement on that part of the immediate container and on the outside or on a wrapper through which the ingredient statement on the immediate container cannot be clearly read;

     (vi) any word, statement, or other information required to appear on the labeling is not prominently placed on the labeling with a conspicuousness (as compared with other words, statements, designs, or graphic matter in the labeling) and in terms rendering it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;

     (vii) in the case of an insecticide, nematocide nematicide, fungicide, or herbicide, when used as directed or in accordance with commonly recognized practice, it is injurious to living humans or other vertebrate animals or vegetation, except weeds, to which it is applied or to the person applying the pesticide;

     (viii) in the case of a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant, when used as directed, it is injurious to humans or other vertebrate animals or vegetation to which it is applied or to the person applying the pesticide. Physical or physiological effects on plants or parts of plants are not injurious when this is the purpose for which the plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant is applied in accordance with the label claims and recommendations.

     (26) "Nematocide" means any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating nematodes.

     (27) "Nematodes", "nemas", or "eelworms" means invertebrate animals of the phylum nemathelminthes and class nematoda, that is, unsegmented round worms with elongated, fusiform, or sac-like bodies covered with cuticle and inhabiting soil, water, animals, plants, or plant parts.

     (28)(24) "Person" means any natural person, individual, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, joint-stock association, body politic, or organized group of persons, whether incorporated or not, and any trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative.

     (29)(25) "Pest" includes any insect, rodent, nematode, snail, slug, or weed and any form of plant or animal life or virus, except a virus on or in living humans or other animals, that is normally considered a pest or that the department declares a pest includes any insect, rodent, nematode, snail, slug, or weed and any form of plant or animal life or virus, except a virus on or in living humans or other animals, that is normally considered a pest or that the department declares a pest.

     (30)(26) "Pesticide" means any:

     (a)  substance or mixture of substances, including any living organism or any product derived from a living organism, intended for preventing, destroying, controlling, repelling, altering life processes, or mitigating any insects, rodents, nematodes, fungi, weeds, and other forms of plant or animal life or viruses, except viruses on or in living humans or other animals, that may infect or be detrimental to persons, vegetation, crops, animals, structures, or households or be present in any environment or that the department declares a pest;

     (b)  substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant; and

     (c)  other substances intended for that use named by the department by a rule adopted by it.

     (31)(27) (a) "Plant regulator" means any substance or mixture of substances affecting the rate of growth or rate of maturation or for otherwise altering physiological condition of plants.

     (b)  The term does not include substances to the extent that they are intended as plant nutrients, trace elements, nutritional chemicals, plant inoculants, and soil amendments.

     (32)(28) "Public utility applicator" means a person applying pesticides to land and structures owned or leased by a public utility.

     (33)(29) "Registrant" means the person registering any pesticide or device under the provisions of this chapter.

     (34)(30) "Restricted-use pesticide" means any pesticide, including highly toxic pesticides, that the department or the environmental protection agency has found and determined, subsequent to a hearing, to be injurious, when used in accordance with registration, label, directions, and cautions, to persons, beneficial insects, animals, crops, or the environment other than the pests it is intended to prevent, destroy, control, or mitigate.

     (35)(31) "Retailer" means a person who sells, offers or exposes for sale, exchanges, barters, or gives away within this state any pesticide for home, yard, lawn, and garden use in quantities or concentrations as determined by the department.

     (36)(32) "Waste pesticide" means a pesticide that:

     (a)  may not be used legally because the environmental protection agency or the department has canceled or suspended the pesticide's registration or has taken other administrative action to prohibit use of the pesticide;

     (b)  will not be used for reasons including but not limited to product damage, toxicity, or obsolescence; or

     (c)  cannot be disposed of in a legal or economically feasible manner.

     (37)(33) "Weed" means any plant or part of the plant that grows where it is not wanted."

 

     Section 2.  Section 80-8-107, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-107.  Notice -- public information. (1) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:

     (a)  "Building operator" means the owner, the owner's agent, or the building manager of any public building or, in the case of a public building that is leased to a tenant who is responsible for the operation of the building, the tenant or the tenant's building manager.

     (b)  "Public building" means a building that is owned or leased by a public agency, as defined in 18-1-101, and that is open to the public, including but not limited to:

     (i)  a building that is used for educational, office, or institutional purposes; or

     (ii) a library, museum, school, hospital, auditorium, dormitory, or university building.

     (2)  The building operator who for indoor treatment personally applies or who contracts for or orders the application of a pesticide, excluding an antimicrobial, a disinfectant, a sanitizer, a pest bait, paste, or gel, or other pesticide that is designated by the department pursuant to 80-8-212 for retail sale, shall post a notice at each access to the public building or, if only a room has been treated, at each access to the room in a manner that allows the notice to be read before entering the building or room. However, if a room from which a heating or air-conditioning system draws air has been treated, the notice required by this section must be posted at each access to the public building. The notice must:

     (a)  be permanently displayed if the pesticide is applied on a regular basis;

     (b)  be posted at the time of the application if the pesticide is not applied on a regular basis;

     (c)  contain the name of the pesticide applied; and

     (d)  contain the phone number at which a person may obtain information, the label, and the material safety data sheet on the pesticide applied.

     (3)  The applicator or building operator may not remove a notice posted pursuant to this section until the pesticide is dry or the reentry interval stated on the pesticide label has expired, whichever is later.

     (4)  A building operator shall keep, for 2 years, records of the pesticide applications and the material safety data sheet for each pesticide.

     (5)  A local government may not adopt standards that are more stringent than the standards established in subsections (2) through (4).

     (6) (a) Except as provided in Title 80, chapter 15, the department may, alone or in cooperation with other state or federal agencies, publish information regarding aspects of the use and application sections or registration sections of this chapter. This information cannot may not disclose operations of selling, production, or use of pesticides by any person.

     (b) When designating a pesticide as a state restricted-use pesticide, the department shall list the state restricted-use pesticide by rule."

 

     Section 3.  Section 80-8-111, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-111.  Waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. (1) The department shall establish a waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. The program must be funded by license, permit, and special fees designated for that purpose in this chapter. The department may also establish waste pesticide and pesticide container fees and accept grants, gifts, and other funds to finance this program.

     (2)  The department may cooperate and contract with a person to conduct and manage the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program.

     (3)  (a) The department shall establish a collection program for waste pesticides and pesticide containers. In order to participate in this program, a person shall:

     (i)  notify the department in advance of the type and amount of waste pesticide or pesticide containers that will be delivered for collection; and

     (ii) deliver the waste pesticide or pesticide containers for collection by the department at a time and location designated by the department.

     (b)  A person may not be subject to an administrative or judicial penalty or action under this chapter as a result of participation in the waste pesticide or pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program pursuant to this section.

     (4)  The department may designate types of waste pesticides or pesticide containers that it will not collect for disposal and recycling under this program.

     (5)  The department shall provide pesticide applicators, dealers, and operators who participate in the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program and who are subject to a license or permit fee under 80-8-203, 80-8-205, 80-8-207, 80-8-209, or 80-8-213 with a credit against the fees levied pursuant to 80-8-105(2)(s), provided that:

     (a)  the credit does not exceed the amount of the license or permit fee paid by the applicator, dealer, or operator under 80-8-203, 80-8-205, 80-8-207, 80-8-209, or 80-8-213; and

     (b)  each applicator, dealer, or operator may receive only one credit for each permit or license period.

     (6)(5)  The department shall consult affected local governments before implementing the collection program under this section."

 

     Section 4.  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 pesticide 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; and

     (d)  if requested by the department, a full description of tests made and the results upon on 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) (9) of this section. The annual registration fee must also be paid, and registration information required by the department must be provided.

     (4) (a) The applicant shall pay an annual pesticide registration fee of $90 for each pesticide registered. The applicant shall pay an annual fee of $90 for: for:

     (i) each pesticide registered;

     (a)(ii) each emergency exemption requested by the state, as provided in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. 136p;

     (b)(iii) a each special local need registration, as provided in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. 136v(c)(1); or and

     (c)(iv) an each experimental-use permit registration, as provided in 7 U.S.C. 136c.

     (b) The annual pesticide registration fee may not be less than $130 a year or more than $145 a year. The department may adjust by rule the registration fee to maintain adequate funding for the purposes of this chapter.

     (5) (a) The department shall assess a special needs fee for each pesticide registered, emergency exemption requested, special local need registration, or experimental-use permit registration to be used for the Montana state university extension service pesticide education program for the purpose of coordinating the certification and training of farm applicators.

     (b) The department may adjust by rule the special needs fee to maintain adequate funding for farm pesticide applicator certification and training programs. The fee may not be less than $8 a year or more than $11 a year.

     (5)(6)  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)(7)  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)(8)  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)(9)  (a) The department, the department of 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 departments shall 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 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 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 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 may 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, 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 the pesticide or device. The advisory council's recommendations on the registration must be accepted by the departments and implemented by the department of agriculture.

     (9)(10) (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) (10)(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."

 

     Section 5.  Section 80-8-203, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-203.  Commercial applicator. (1) It is unlawful for a person to engage in the business of applying pesticides for another without a pesticide applicator's license obtained from the department of agriculture. An application for a pesticide applicator's license must be accompanied by a fee of $45 $75. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to a person employed only to operate equipment used for the application of a pesticide if the person has no financial interest or other control over the equipment other than its day-to-day mechanical operation for the purpose of applying any pesticide.

     (2)  Public utility applicators must be licensed in the same manner as commercial applicators, provided that public utility operators working under public utility applicators are not required to be licensed except as provided in 80-8-205.

     (3)  A veterinarian licensed as provided in Title 37, chapter 18, part 3, is not required to be licensed to apply nonrestricted pesticides, provided that the veterinarian registers with the department each year. The veterinarian must meet all other requirements and rules of the Montana Pesticides Act. The department shall consider the professional licensing requirements for veterinarians when adopting rules be licensed to apply nonrestricted pesticides, provided that the veterinarian registers with the department each year. The veterinarian must meet all other requirements and rules of the Montana Pesticides Act. The department shall consider the professional licensing requirements for veterinarians when adopting rules in relation to transactions and activities of a veterinary practice.

     (4)  An applicator is responsible for the use of any pesticide by an operator or employee under the applicator's supervision or employment.

     (5)  The department shall assess an additional annual license fee of $10 on applicators to fund the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. The department may by rule adjust the disposal fee to maintain adequate funding for the administration of the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. The fee may not be less than $10 a year or more than $15 a year. Fees collected under this subsection must be deposited in the state special revenue account pursuant to 80-8-112."

 

     Section 6.  Section 80-8-207, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-207.  Dealers. (1) A person may not sell, offer for sale, deliver, or have delivered within the state a pesticide without first obtaining a license from the department for each calendar year or portion of a year. A separate dealer's license and fee is required for each location or outlet from which pesticides are distributed, sold, held for sale, or offered for sale. Pesticide field personnel or salespeople employed directly out of the same location or outlet and under a licensed dealer are not required to obtain a license. The dealer shall furnish the department with the names and addresses of the dealer's field personnel and salespeople selling pesticides within the state.

     (2) The department shall require an applicant for a dealer's license to show, upon written examination, that the person possesses adequate knowledge related to the responsibilities of a pesticide dealer. Licensed dealers are not required to repeat an examination to renew their license provided they have earned the required recertification credits for renewal of that license.

     (2)(3)  The application for a license must be accompanied by a fee of $45 $75. A dealer applying for renewal of a license shall apply on or before March 1 of the calendar year. A dealer applying for renewal of a license after March 1 must be assessed a $25 late licensing fee.

     (3)(4)  The dealer shall require the purchaser of a restricted pesticide to exhibit the purchaser's license or permit issued under authority of this chapter, or the dealer may verify, under procedures authorized by the department, the purchaser's license or permit through a department list or by electronic means before completing a sale. The department may adopt rules concerning dealer verification of licenses and permits.

     (4)(5)  The department shall assess an additional annual license fee of $10 on dealers to fund the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. The department may by rule adjust the disposal fee to maintain adequate funding for the administration of the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. The fee may not be less than $10 a year or more than $15 a year. Fees collected under this subsection must be deposited in an account in the state special revenue fund pursuant to 80-8-112.

     (5)(6)  Pharmacists licensed as provided for in 37-7-302, veterinarians licensed as provided for in 37-18-302, and certified pharmacies licensed under 37-7-321 are not required to be licensed to sell pesticides if the certified pharmacies and veterinarians register with the department each year. However, the certified pharmacies and veterinarians must meet all other requirements concerning the commercial sale of pesticides. The department shall take into account the professional licensing requirements of pharmacists, certified pharmacies, and veterinarians when adopting rules if the certified pharmacies and veterinarians register with the department each year. However, the certified pharmacies and veterinarians must meet all other requirements concerning the commercial sale of pesticides. The department shall take into account the professional licensing requirements of pharmacists, certified pharmacies, and veterinarians when adopting rules."

 

     Section 7.  Section 80-8-209, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-209.  Farm applicators. (1) Farm applicators shall obtain a special-use permit prior to purchasing and using a pesticide designated by the department as a restricted-use pesticide. The fee for the permit is $35 $45. The special-use permit is effective for 5 calendar years. The department may establish a staggered years system of issuing permits. Revenue generated by the permit fee must be expended in the following manner:

     (a)  $15 to the department to administer the permitting program;

     (b)  $5 to the Montana state university-Bozeman extension service: for the development of educational materials for farm pesticide applicators

     (i) to train extension service agents regarding farm pesticide applicator certification and training; and

     (ii) to operate farm pesticide applicator certification and training programs; and

     (c)  $15 $25 to the cooperative extension service of the county in which the permit applicant resides for for conducting farm pesticide applicator certification and training programs.

     (2)  Restricted pesticides may not be utilized by farm applicators or their employees except for the purpose of producing or protecting an agricultural commodity on property owned, leased, or rented by the applicator.

     (3)  Farm applicators shall qualify for their first permit by either passing a graded written examination, or attending a training course approved by the department and then taking an ungraded written examination. The examinations and course must meet the minimum certification standards and procedures established by the environmental protection agency except as otherwise provided by this chapter.

     (4)  The department may require farm applicators to attend a mandatory training session and pass a written examination for those restricted pesticides that are extremely toxic or for which an effective antidote is not available. The department may require farm applicators handling these pesticides to maintain use records.

     (5)  The department shall require farm applicators to requalify for renewal of the 5-year permit by attending an approved training program. The department shall establish by rule a uniform system of administering the requalification training program. The department may credit only training related to the standards set forth in subsection (3) (4).

     (6)  Provisions of this chapter relating to certification of farm applicators do not apply to a farm applicator applying nonrestricted pesticides on the applicator's own land or on lands of neighbors if the farm applicator:

     (a)  operates farm property and operates and maintains pesticide application equipment primarily for the applicator's own use;

     (b)  is not regularly engaged in the business of applying pesticides for hire and does not represent to the public that the farm applicator is a pesticide applicator;

     (c)  operates pesticide application equipment only in the vicinity of the applicator's own property and for the accommodation of immediate neighbors.

     (7)  (a) The department shall assess an additional permit fee of $15 on farm applicators to fund the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program.

     (b)  Farm applicators must be assessed the fee at the beginning of the next 5-year permit renewal period. The department may assess a prorated fee for a farm applicator becoming licensed within a 5-year permit renewal period.

     (c)  Fees collected under this subsection (7) must be deposited in the state special revenue account pursuant to 80-8-112."

 

     Section 8.  Section 80-8-213, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-213.  Government agencies. (1) All state agencies, municipal corporations, or any other governmental agencies are subject to the provisions of this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter concerning the application or sale of pesticides. Applicators and operators applying pesticides and dealers selling pesticides for agencies, municipal corporations, or any governmental agencies are subject to the provisions of 80-8-203 through 80-8-208 80-8-208.

     (2)  The department shall issue a limited commercial applicator's or dealer's license for an annual fee of $50, which is valid only when an applicator or dealer is applying or selling pesticides for a state agency, municipal corporation, or any other governmental agency, provided that the jurisdictional health officer, state veterinarian, their duly authorized representatives, or governmental research personnel are exempt from this licensing requirement when applying pesticides to experimental areas.

     (3)  (a) A governmental agency shall pay for each of its first four employee applicators:

     (i)  an annual applicator's fee of $50 $60; and

     (ii) an additional fee of $10 to fund the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. The department may by rule adjust the disposal fee to maintain adequate funding for the administration of the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. The fee may not be less than $10 a year or more than $15 a year.

     (b)  A governmental agency shall pay for each additional employee applicator:

     (i)  an annual applicator's fee of $5; and

     (ii) an additional fee of $10 to fund the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. The department may by rule adjust the disposal fee to maintain adequate funding for the administration of the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program. The fee may not be less than $10 a year or more than $15 a year.

     (c)  A government agency may not be required to pay more than $600 $895 annually for the licensing of employees as applicators and operators.

     (d)  Fees collected pursuant to this subsection (3) for the purpose of funding the waste pesticide and pesticide container collection, disposal, and recycling program must be deposited in the state special revenue account pursuant to 80-8-112.

     (4)  Government employees becoming certified applicators only to qualify for conducting pesticide education courses may not be charged a license fee but are limited to providing the courses. Government operators are subject to rules adopted pursuant to 80-8-205, including the license fee."

 

     Section 9.  Section 80-8-302, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-302.  Sampling and analysis. (1) The department shall have the authority to sample, inspect, make analysis of and analyze pesticides or devices distributed within this state at such time and place and to such extent as it may deem wherever and whenever and to the extent necessary to determine whether such the pesticides or devices are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. The department is authorized with a warrant or the consent of the inhabitant or owner to enter upon any public or private premises, including any vehicle of transport in order vehicles, to have access to pesticides or devices and to records relating to their distribution.

     (2)  The methods of sampling and analysis shall be those adopted by the department from sources such as the Journal of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists must be based on:

     (a) validated methods for the laboratory; and      

     (b) standard methods and guidance for the sampling.

     (3)  In all administrative or legal actions involving the composition, identification, or quantification of a pesticide, a certified copy of the official analysis signed by the department's authorized chemist shall must be accepted as prima facie evidence of the determinations set forth therein the official analysis contains."

 

     Section 10.  Section 80-8-303, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-303.  Embargo. (1) Whenever a duly authorized agent of the department of agriculture finds or has probable cause to believe that any pesticide or device is adulterated or misbranded, has not been registered under the provisions of 80-8-201(5) 80-8-201, fails to bear on its label the information required by this chapter, or is a white powder pesticide and is not colored as required under this chapter, the agent shall affix to the article a tag or other appropriate marking giving notice of the failure and stating that the article has been detained or embargoed and warning all persons not to remove or dispose of the article by sale or otherwise until permission for removal or disposal is given by the agent or the court. A person who removes or disposes of a detained or embargoed article by sale or otherwise without prior permission or who removes or alters the tag or marking is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be charged accordingly or may be subjected to appropriate administrative proceedings, or both.

     (2)  When an article detained or embargoed under subsection (1) has been found by the agent to be in violation of subsection (1) and after 30 days the violation has not been resolved, the agent may petition the district court in whose jurisdiction the article is detained or embargoed for a condemnation of the article. When the agent has found that an article detained or embargoed is not adulterated or misbranded, the agent shall remove the tag or other marking.

     (3)  If the court finds that a detained or embargoed article is in violation of this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter, the article must after entry of the decree be destroyed at the expense of the claimant of the article, under the supervision of the agent, and all court costs and fees and storage and other proper expenses must be assessed against the claimant of the pesticide or device or the claimant's agent. However, when the adulteration or misbranding can be corrected by proper labeling or processing of the article, the court, after entry of the decree and after costs, fees, and expenses have been paid and a good and sufficient bond has been executed, conditioned upon the proper labeling or processing of the pesticide or device, may by order direct that the article be delivered to the claimant of the article for labeling or processing under the supervision of an agent of the department. The expense of supervision must be paid by the claimant. The article must be returned to the claimant of the pesticide or device on the representation to the court by the department that the article is no longer in violation of this chapter and that the expenses of supervision have been paid."

 

     Section 11.  Section 80-8-401, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-401.  Short title. This part may be cited as the "Model School Integrated Pest and Pesticide Management Safety Program Act"."

 

     Section 12.  Section 80-8-404, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-8-404.  Model school integrated pest and pesticide management safety program. (1) The department shall develop a model school integrated pest and pesticide management safety program and distribute the program to school districts by July 1, 1994 may develop a model integrated pest and pesticide management safety program for facilities under supervision, including but not limited to schools, day-care facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, and other education and health care facilities. The model program programs must provide guidance and recommendations to school districts on management of pests and pesticides and on alternatives within schools and on school grounds a facility and on facility grounds.

     (2)  The model program guidelines and recommendations must include information on pests, alternative and pesticide control methods and their integration, environmental concerns, and protection of public health. Special information and recommendations for protecting school children the affected populations from exposure to pesticides and from the acute or chronic potential adverse health effects of pesticides must be emphasized. The department may periodically revise the model program guidelines, policies, and recommendations as new integrated pest, pesticide, or alternative management techniques and methods are developed and as new information on protecting school children the affected populations from pesticides is developed.

     (3)  The director may consult and obtain advice from pest and pesticide specialists, school facility personnel, and the public on any aspect of the model school integrated pest and pesticide management safety program."

 

     Section 13.  Section 80-15-302, MCA, is amended to read:

     "80-15-302.  Special funding. (1) A fee of $95 is assessed for the registration of pesticides in addition to the fee imposed by 80-8-201(4) 80-8-201.

     (2)  The money collected from the registration fee established by subsection (1) must be deposited in the state special revenue fund as follows:

     (a)  Each of the following state agencies must be credited $15,000 for purposes of administering or assisting the department in administering this chapter:

     (i)  department of environmental quality; and

     (ii) Montana state university-Bozeman extension service.

     (b)  The department must be credited with the remainder of the registration fee money to use in administering this chapter.

     (3)  A fee of $10 is assessed for the registration of fertilizers in addition to the fees imposed by 80-10-201(1)(a)(i) and (1)(a)(ii). The additional fee must be used for the ground water protection responsibilities of the department relating to fertilizers. Revenues collected from this fee must be credited to the commercial fertilizer agricultural chemical ground water account within the state special revenue fund for the administration of this chapter.

     (4)  The department may direct the board of investments to invest the portion of the money collected under this section that is credited to the department pursuant to the provisions of 17-6-201. The income from the investments must be deposited in the state special revenue fund and credited to the department."

 

     Section 14.  Repealer. The following section of the Montana Code Annotated is repealed:

80-8-214.        & #160;  Liability.

 

     Section 15.  Saving clause. [This act] does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, or proceedings that were begun before [the effective date of this act].

 

     Section 16.  Severability. If a part of [this act] is invalid, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in effect. If a part of [this act] is invalid in one or more of its applications, the part remains in effect in all valid applications that are severable from the invalid applications.

 

     Section 17.  Effective dates. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), [this act] is effective on passage and approval.

     (2) [Section 14] is effective October 1, 2019.

- END -

 


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