PRINTER'S NO. 3174
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
759
Session of
2018
INTRODUCED BY CRUZ, YOUNGBLOOD, DONATUCCI, KINSEY, MURT,
DRISCOLL, NEILSON, THOMAS, DEAN, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA AND
BRADFORD, MARCH 15, 2018
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, MARCH 15, 2018
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study on pesticide exposure and poisoning, testing and
reporting and to issue a report.
WHEREAS, The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide
Act is the Federal statute governing the registration,
distribution, sale and use of pesticides throughout the United
States; and
WHEREAS, A pesticide is defined in the Pennsylvania Pesticide
Control Act of 1973 as "any substance or mixture of substances
intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating
any pest, and any substance or mixture of substances intended
for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant"; and
WHEREAS, Pesticides are widely used to control pests such as
insects, rodents, weeds, mold, fungi and bacteria; and
WHEREAS, Although utilized in and around buildings, homes,
forests, parks and schools, pesticides are also consistently
applied to crops by the agricultural industry; and
WHEREAS, Eighty percent of the 16,000 pesticide products that
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are registered with the United States Environmental Protection
Agency are used by the agricultural industry; and
WHEREAS, Agriculture has a long ingrained history within this
Commonwealth and continues to be one of the top economic
industries; and
WHEREAS, Given the greater use of pesticides in cultivating
crops, the groups employed in the agricultural industry are most
exposed and at elevated risk of illness or injury; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing worker risk, the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide and Rodenticide Act includes a specific section
addressing worker protection standards; and
WHEREAS, The worker protection standards were revised by the
Environmental Protection Agency in November 2015 for the first
time since 1992; and
WHEREAS, Most provisions of the revised worker protection
standards were implemented in January 2017; and
WHEREAS, The remaining sections slated be to implemented have
been delayed by the Environmental Protection Agency until May
2018; and
WHEREAS, Every organ system in the body is susceptible to
pesticide toxicity, with recent studies showing that not only
workers, but pregnant women and their developing babies and
children are particularly vulnerable; and
WHEREAS, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health's Strategic Surveillance Plan recommends that every state
conduct surveillance for acute pesticide-related illness and
injury to identify pesticide problems, estimate the magnitude of
pesticide poisoning and evaluate intervention and prevention
efforts; and
WHEREAS, Thirty states, including Ohio, Maryland, New Jersey
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and New York, require health professionals to report suspected
pesticide poisoning; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is one of 23 states and jurisdictions
that do not require reporting of suspected pesticide poisoning
by health professionals; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study on pesticide
exposure and poisoning, testing and reporting and to issue a
report to the General Assembly; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission seek
input and information, as appropriate, from the following:
(1) The Department of Health.
(2) The Department of Labor and Industry.
(3) The Department of Agriculture.
(4) The Department of Environmental Protection.
(5) The Insurance Department.
(6) Federal agencies that oversee regulation of
pesticides.
(7) Individuals specializing in toxicology,
epidemiology, medicine, data management, occupational and
environmental health and industrial hygiene.
(8) Other agencies, organizations or persons that the
commission deems appropriate;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the report of the Joint State Government
Commission contain findings and recommendations and include any
proposed legislation regarding the following:
(1) The threat pesticide exposure poses to public
health.
(2) A cost-benefit analysis for employers providing
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adequate information, safety gear and training and in taking
all necessary precautions to prevent pesticide exposure and
pesticide-related illness and injury.
(3) The feasibility of this Commonwealth developing and
implementing a Statewide pesticide-related illness and injury
related surveillance program.
(4) Identification of available money, including Federal
and State money, to develop and implement a Statewide
pesticide-related illness and injury related surveillance
program, if feasible;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report of its findings and recommendations to the General
Assembly within 18 months of the adoption of this resolution.
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