California Assembly Bill AB967 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 967INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ma FEBRUARY 26, 2009 An act to amend Section 11501 of the Food and Agricultural Code, relating to pesticides. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 967, as introduced, Ma. Pesticides: safety. Existing law provides that the purpose of certain statutes relating to pesticides is to provide for the proper, safe, and efficient use of pesticides, protect the environment, assure worker safety, permit control of licensees by the Director of Pesticide Regulation and county commissioners, assure consumers of proper and appropriate labeling, and encourage pest management systems. This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes in that provision. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 11501 of the Food and Agricultural Code is amended to read: 11501. The purposes of this division and Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 12501), Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 12751), Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 14001), and Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 14101) of Division 7 are as follows: (a) To provide for the proper, safe, and efficient use of pesticides  that are  essential for production of food and fiber and for protection of the public health and safety. (b) To protect the environment from environmentally harmful pesticides by prohibiting, regulating, or ensuring proper stewardship of those pesticides. (c) To  assure   ensure  the agricultural and pest control workers of safe working conditions where pesticides are present. (d) To permit agricultural pest control by competent and responsible licensees and permittees under strict control of the director and commissioners. (e) To  assure   ensure  consumers and users that pesticides are properly labeled and are appropriate for the use designated by the label and that state or local governmental dissemination of information on pesticidal uses of any registered pesticide product is consistent with the uses for which the product is registered. (f) To encourage the development and implementation of pest management systems, stressing application of biological and cultural pest control techniques with selective pesticides when necessary to achieve acceptable levels of control with the least possible harm to nontarget organisms and the environment.