Well, this year is turning out to be a busy one on the legislative front. While we were hoping for a quiet year with another win with the Structural Fumigation Enforcement Program (AB 307), many anti-pesticide bills have been added to the docket making this another busy year.

Starting the year off, AB 363 (the neonic re-evaluation bill) was introduced in February along with AB 652. AB 363 would mandate a re-evaluation of neonics with unreasonable time frames and the assumption that mitigation will be needed. DPR has already started this process under the direction of the Governor’s office from the veto message of last year’s neonic ban bill. This issue should not be addressed by the legislature as there is a department to handle these issues. That is one of the reasons that we OPPOSE AB 363.  AB 652 is a bill that would form an Environmental Justice Advisory Committee to give input on DPR’s priorities and initiatives. This could result in DPR not being able to regulate as a science-based organization. This is one of the many reasons we OPPOSE AB 652.

Assembly Member Friedman also introduced AB 1322 which would add all of the restrictions in AB 1788 (the SGAR Ban bill) to the rodenticide Diphacinone. Again, like AB 363, this is a pesticide based issue that belongs in DPR. We OPPOSE AB 1322 and will be fighting this bill at every opportunity that we can. 

There are a couple of other bills that PCOC is watching that have to do with the license side of the business. AB 996 is a DCA bill that addresses the providers of CEU’s and AB 1101 is a bill that talks about inspecting and certifying exterior elevated elements on muti-family homes (raised decks). There are conversations happening with the authors of these bills and we will keep you posted as this develops.

However, on the positive front, DPR is moving forward with the SGAR re-evaluation. This helps that cause with regards to removing the temporary restrictions with SGAR’s listed in AB 1788. Once this process is completed and DPR adopts the mitigation from their findings, then the restrictions listed in AB 1788 can be lifted and these other mitigations can be adopted on a permanent basis. PCOC is working with DPR on this.

Michael Wilson, our new EVP, has walked into a year that is busier than most and will get to know this industry through trial by fire. Welcome Michael!

Darren Van Steenwyk, M.S., BCE
PCOC Legislative Committee Chair
Clark Pest Control
Mobile: (209) 224-4629
darrenv@clarkpest.com