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        PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1506                      PRINTER'S NO. 2228

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 1289 Session of 2001


        INTRODUCED BY RUBLEY, ADOLPH, ALLEN, M. BAKER, BARD, BASTIAN,
           BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, BELFANTI, BLAUM, BROWNE, CALTAGIRONE,
           CAPPABIANCA, CAPPELLI, CASORIO, CAWLEY, CIVERA, CLARK,
           L. I. COHEN, M. COHEN, COLAFELLA, CORNELL, COSTA, COY, CRUZ,
           CURRY, DALEY, DALLY, DeLUCA, DERMODY, DeWEESE, DIVEN,
           FAIRCHILD, FICHTER, FLICK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GRUCELA,
           HARHAI, HARPER, HENNESSEY, HERMAN, HORSEY, JOSEPHS, KAISER,
           KELLER, LAUGHLIN, LEDERER, LEH, LEVDANSKY, LYNCH, MANDERINO,
           MANN, MARSICO, MAYERNIK, McCALL, McGILL, McILHINNEY, MELIO,
           MICHLOVIC, R. MILLER, S. MILLER, MYERS, NAILOR, PETRARCA,
           PIPPY, PISTELLA, READSHAW, ROBINSON, ROONEY, RUFFING,
           SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SCHRODER, SCRIMENTI, SHANER, SOLOBAY,
           STABACK, STEELMAN, STEIL, T. STEVENSON, STURLA, SURRA,
           TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TRAVAGLIO, TRELLO, VITALI,
           WALKO, WANSACZ, WATSON, C. WILLIAMS, WOJNAROSKI, WRIGHT,
           YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK, HESS, MUNDY, SAINATO, MAHER AND JAMES,
           APRIL 4, 2001

        AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF
           REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 13, 2001

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
     2     act relating to the public school system, including certain
     3     provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
     4     schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
     5     laws relating thereto," providing for integrated pesticide
     6     management programs in schools.

     7     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     8  hereby enacts as follows:
     9     Section 1.  The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
    10  as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
    11  section to read:
    12     Section 772.1.  Integrated Pesticide Management Programs.--

     1  (a)  The following apply to pesticide applicators:
     2     (1)  For a pesticide treatment at a school building, the
     3  certified applicator or pesticide application technician shall
     4  supply the pest control information sheet and a pest control
     5  sign, which must be at least eight and one-half by eleven (8 1/2
     6  by 11) inches in size, to the chief administrator or building
     7  manager.
     8     (2)  For a pesticide treatment on school grounds, including
     9  athletic fields and playgrounds, the certified applicator or
    10  pesticide application technician shall supply the pest control
    11  information sheet and a pest control sign, which must be at
    12  least eight and one-half by eleven (8 1/2 by 11) inches in size,
    13  to the chief administrator or grounds manager.
    14     (b)  Responsibilities of schools are as follows:
    15     (1)  Each public school district shall, by July 1, 2001 2002,  <--
    16  adopt an integrated pest management plan in accordance with the
    17  integrated pest management policies in use by ESTABLISHED BY the  <--
    18  department on the effective date of this section, until
    19  regulations are promulgated by the department.
    20     (2)  Except as provided in clause (4), notification of
    21  pesticide treatments shall be as follows:
    22     (i)  For a pesticide treatment at a school building, the
    23  school shall be responsible for all of the following:
    24     (A)  Posting the pest control sign received under subsection
    25  (a)(1) in an area of common access where individuals are likely
    26  to view the sign on a regular basis at least seventy-two (72)
    27  hours before and for at least two (2) days following each
    28  planned treatment.
    29     (B)  Providing the pest control information sheet received
    30  under subsection (a)(1) to every individual working in the
    20010H1289B2228                  - 2 -

     1  school building at least seventy-two (72) hours before each
     2  planned treatment.
     3     (C)  Providing notice in writing to the parents or guardians   <--
     4  of the students enrolled in that school at least seventy-two
     5  (72) hours before each planned treatment. The notice must
     6  include the name, address and telephone number of the applicator
     7  applying the treatment, day of treatment and the pesticide
     8  utilized. The notice may be included in normal school
     9  communications to parents or guardians and need not be mailed
    10  separately to parents or guardians.
    11     (C)  PROVIDING NOTICE, INCLUDING THE NAME, ADDRESS AND         <--
    12  TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE APPLICATOR PROVIDING THE TREATMENT, DAY
    13  OF TREATMENT AND PESTICIDE TO BE UTILIZED, TO THE PARENTS OR
    14  GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL AT LEAST SEVENTY-
    15  TWO (72) HOURS BEFORE EACH PLANNED TREATMENT AS FOLLOWS:
    16     (I)  NOTICE TO ALL PARENTS OR GUARDIANS UTILIZING NORMAL
    17  SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES; OR
    18     (II)  NOTICE TO A LIST OF INTERESTED PARENTS OR GUARDIANS
    19  WHO, AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, OR UPON THE CHILD'S
    20  ENROLLMENT, REQUESTED NOTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION OF
    21  PESTICIDES. THE SCHOOL SHALL PROVIDE PROCEDURES OR MATERIALS FOR
    22  SUCH REQUESTS TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS. NOTIFICATION
    23  OF EACH PESTICIDE APPLICATION SHALL BE PROVIDED USING FIRST
    24  CLASS MAIL OR OTHER MEANS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE SCHOOL TO
    25  EACH PARENT OR GUARDIAN REQUESTING NOTIFICATION.
    26     (ii)  For a pesticide treatment on school grounds, the school
    27  shall be responsible for all of the following:
    28     (A)  Posting the pest control sign received under subsection
    29  (a)(2) at the place to be treated at least seventy-two (72)
    30  hours before and for two (2) days after the planned treatment.
    20010H1289B2228                  - 3 -

     1     (B)  Providing the pest control information sheet received
     2  under subsection (a)(2) to every individual working in the
     3  school building at least seventy-two (72) hours before each
     4  planned treatment.
     5     (C)  Providing notice in writing to the parents or guardians   <--
     6  of the students enrolled in that school at least seventy-two
     7  (72) hours before each planned treatment. The notice must
     8  include the name, address and telephone number of the applicator
     9  applying the treatment, day of treatment and the pesticide
    10  utilized. The notice may be included in normal school
    11  communications to parents or guardians and need not be mailed
    12  separately to parents or guardians.
    13     (C)  PROVIDING NOTICE, INCLUDING THE NAME, ADDRESS AND         <--
    14  TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE APPLICATOR PROVIDING THE TREATMENT, DAY
    15  OF TREATMENT AND PESTICIDE TO BE UTILIZED, TO THE PARENTS OR
    16  GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL AT LEAST SEVENTY-
    17  TWO (72) HOURS BEFORE EACH PLANNED TREATMENT AS FOLLOWS:
    18     (I)  NOTICE TO ALL PARENTS OR GUARDIANS UTILIZING NORMAL
    19  SCHOOL COMMUNICATIONS PROCEDURES; OR
    20     (II)  NOTICE TO A LIST OF INTERESTED PARENTS OR GUARDIANS
    21  WHO, AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, OR UPON THE CHILD'S
    22  ENROLLMENT, REQUESTED NOTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION OF
    23  PESTICIDES. THE SCHOOL SHALL PROVIDE PROCEDURES OR MATERIALS FOR
    24  SUCH REQUESTS TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF STUDENTS. NOTIFICATION
    25  OF EACH PESTICIDE APPLICATION SHALL BE PROVIDED USING FIRST
    26  CLASS MAIL OR OTHER MEANS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE SCHOOL TO
    27  EACH PARENT OR GUARDIAN REQUESTING NOTIFICATION.
    28     (iii)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,
    29  if WHERE pests pose an immediate threat to the health and safety  <--
    30  of students or employes, the school may authorize an emergency
    20010H1289B2228                  - 4 -

     1  pesticide application. In the case of an emergency pesticide
     2  application, the school shall notify by telephone any parent or
     3  guardian who has requested such notification. School officials
     4  shall annually advise parents of their right to request
     5  notification of emergency pesticide use and shall explain
     6  procedures for requesting such notification.
     7     (3)  Except as provided in clause (4), each school shall
     8  maintain detailed records of all chemical pest control
     9  treatments for a period of at least three (3) years.
    10     (4)  Clauses THE NOTICE AND RECORDKEEPING REQUIREMENTS IN      <--
    11  CLAUSES (2) and (3) and subsection (c) do not apply to the
    12  application of:
    13     (i)  disinfectant and antimicrobial products;
    14     (ii)  self-contained bait packages placed in areas not         <--
    15  accessible to students; or
    16     (II)  SELF-CONTAINERIZED BAITS PLACED IN AREAS NOT ACCESSIBLE  <--
    17  TO STUDENTS AND GEL TYPE BAITS PLACED IN CRACKS, CREVICES OR
    18  VOIDS; OR
    19     (iii)  swimming pool maintenance chemicals in the care and
    20  maintenance of a swimming pool.
    21     (c)  The following prohibitions shall apply:
    22     (1)  Except as provided in clause (2), pesticides may not be
    23  applied to an area in the school building while students are      <--
    24  present for normal academic instruction or organized
    25  extracurricular activities, or on school grounds while students
    26  are in the immediate vicinity for normal academic instruction or
    27  organized extracurricular activities. WITHIN A SCHOOL BUILDING    <--
    28  WHERE STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE PRESENT FOR NORMAL ACADEMIC
    29  INSTRUCTION OR ORGANIZED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WITHIN SEVEN
    30  (7) HOURS FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION, OR ON SCHOOL GROUNDS WHERE
    20010H1289B2228                  - 5 -

     1  STUDENTS WILL BE IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY FOR NORMAL ACADEMIC
     2  INSTRUCTION OR ORGANIZED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WITHIN SEVEN
     3  (7) HOURS FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION. THE APPLICATOR SHALL ALSO
     4  COMPLY WITH RE-ENTRY TIME RESTRICTIONS CONTAINED ON THE
     5  PESTICIDE LABEL.
     6     (2)  Students may not be present in an untreated portion of
     7  the school building unless the area being treated has a separate
     8  ventilation system and is separated from the untreated portion
     9  by smoke or fire doors, or is a separate building.
    10     (d)  The department shall do all of the following:
    11     (1)  Establish guidelines to promote the efficient and         <--
    12  uniform adoption and administration of integrated pest
    13  management plans.
    14     (2) (1)  Maintain a hypersensitivity registry to assist in     <--
    15  the notification of students and employes who are especially
    16  sensitive to pesticides.
    17     (3) (2)  Designate an integrated pest management coordinator   <--
    18  within the department to assist schools in the adoption and
    19  administration of integrated pest management plans.
    20     (4) (3)  Prepare a standard structural integrated pest         <--
    21  management agreement and distribute the standard agreement to
    22  schools.
    23     (5) (4)  Provide other materials and assistance to school      <--
    24  districts to aid schools and school districts in developing
    25  integrated pest management plans.
    26     (6) (5)  Promulgate regulations, consistent with its policies  <--
    27  in effect on the date of this section, to assist schools in
    28  implementing their responsibilities under this section.
    29     (e)  The following words and phrases when used in this
    30  section shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection
    20010H1289B2228                  - 6 -

     1  unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
     2     "Applicator."  A certified applicator, commercial applicator
     3  or public applicator.
     4     "Certified applicator."  An individual who is certified under
     5  section 16.1, 17 or 17.1 of the act of March 1, 1974 (P.L.90,
     6  No.24), known as the "Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act of
     7  1973," as competent to use or supervise the use or application
     8  of any pesticide.
     9     "Commercial applicator."  A certified applicator, whether or
    10  not he is a private applicator with respect to some uses, who
    11  uses or supervises the use of any pesticide on the property or
    12  premises of another or on easements granted under State law, or
    13  any applicator who uses or supervises the use of any restricted-
    14  use pesticide on property owned or rented by him or his
    15  employer, when not for purposes of producing an agricultural
    16  product. The secretary may by regulation deem certain types of
    17  applicators using any pesticide on their own property or that of
    18  their employer as commercial applicators.
    19     "Department."  The Department of Agriculture of the
    20  Commonwealth.
    21     "Insect."  Any of the numerous small invertebrate animals
    22  generally having a more or less obviously segmented body, for
    23  the most part belonging to the class Insecta, comprising six-
    24  legged, usually winged forms, as, for example, beetles, bugs,
    25  bees and flies, and to other allied classes of arthropods whose
    26  members are wingless and usually have more than six (6) legs,
    27  as, for example, spiders, mites, ticks, centipedes and wood
    28  lice.
    29     "Integrated pest management plan."  A plan which establishes
    30  a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining
    20010H1289B2228                  - 7 -

     1  biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way which
     2  minimizes economic, health and environmental risks.
     3     "Nematode."  An invertebrate animal of the phylum
     4  Nemathelminthes and class Nematoda, that is, unsegmented round
     5  worms with elongated, fusiform or sac-like bodies covered with
     6  cuticle and inhabiting soil, water, plants or plant parts. The
     7  term includes nemas and eelworms.
     8     "Person."  An individual, partnership, association,
     9  corporation or any organized group of persons, whether
    10  incorporated or not.
    11     "Pest."  An insect, rodent, nematode, fungus, weed or other
    12  form of terrestrial or aquatic plant or animal life or virus,
    13  bacteria or other micro-organism, except viruses, bacteria or
    14  other micro-organisms on or in living man or other living
    15  animals, declared to be a pest under section 25(c)(1) of the
    16  Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (61 Stat.
    17  163, 7 U.S.C. § 136w).
    18     "Pest control information sheet."  A document which contains
    19  the date of treatment, the name, address and telephone number of
    20  the applicator, the pesticide utilized and any other information
    21  that is required by the Secretary of Agriculture.
    22     "Pesticide."  A substance or mixture of substances intended
    23  for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating a pest and a
    24  substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant
    25  regulator, defoliant or desiccant.
    26     "Pesticide application technician."  An individual employed
    27  by a commercial applicator or governmental agency who, having
    28  met the competency requirements as set forth in the act of March
    29  1, 1974 (P.L.90, No.24), known as the "Pennsylvania Pesticide
    30  Control Act of 1973," is registered by the Secretary of
    20010H1289B2228                  - 8 -

     1  Agriculture to apply pesticides under the direct supervision of
     2  a certified applicator.
     3     "Public applicator."  A certified applicator who applies
     4  pesticides as an employe of the Commonwealth or its
     5  instrumentalities or a local agency.
     6     "School."  A school district, an intermediate unit or an area
     7  vocational-technical school or any of these entities acting
     8  jointly.
     9     "Secretary."  The Secretary of Agriculture of the
    10  Commonwealth.
    11     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.













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