| 16 | | - | Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to examine information concerning medically accepted principles regarding the health effects of the use of pesticides, including any age dependent effects. Such examination shall include, but not be limited to: (1) The review of peer-reviewed studies, journals, articles, digests and similar literature concerning possible pesticide-based origins for human diseases and chronic ailments, including, but not limited to, asthma, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative conditions; (2) the development of a readily understandable model and written explanation of the typical chemical and geological processes that occur when pesticides are applied on school grounds, municipal parks and residential properties in Connecticut; and (3) the acquisition of reliable and up-to-date information concerning the median frequency of pesticide applications at schools in Connecticut, the customary methods employed for such applications, the type of pesticides used in such applications and the general reasons for such applications. |
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| 28 | + | Section 1. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2013) (a) As used in this section, "pesticide" means a fungicide used on plants, an insecticide, a herbicide or a rodenticide but does not mean a sanitizer, disinfectant, antimicrobial agent or a pesticide bait; "lawn care pesticide" means a pesticide registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and labeled pursuant to the federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act for use in lawn, garden and ornamental sites or areas; and "certified pesticide applicator" means a pesticide applicator with (1) supervisory certification under section 22a-54 of the general statutes, or (2) operational certification under section 22a-54 of the general statutes, who operates under the direct supervision of a pesticide applicator with said supervisory certification. |
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| 22 | | - | (2) The director of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, or the director's designee; |
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| 23 | | - | |
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| 24 | | - | (3) One appointed by the president of the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering; |
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| 25 | | - | |
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| 26 | | - | (4) One appointed by the director of the Center for Integrative Geosciences at The University of Connecticut; |
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| 27 | | - | |
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| 28 | | - | (5) One appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health, who shall have considerable experience and expertise in the field of epidemiology; |
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| 29 | | - | |
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| 30 | | - | (6) One appointed by the director of the Connecticut Controlled Substances and Toxicology Laboratory, who shall have considerable experience and expertise in the field of chemical toxics; and |
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| 31 | | - | |
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| 32 | | - | (7) One appointed by the president of the Connecticut State Medical Society, who shall have considerable experience and expertise in the field of endocrinology. |
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| 33 | | - | |
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| 34 | | - | (c) All appointments to the task force shall be made not later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority, as applicable. |
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| 35 | | - | |
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| 36 | | - | (d) The members of the task force shall select the chairpersons of the task force, from among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty days after the effective date of this section. |
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| 37 | | - | |
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| 38 | | - | (e) The administrative and legal staff of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment shall serve as administrative and legal staff of the task force. |
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| 39 | | - | |
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| 40 | | - | (f) Not later than February 1, 2014, the task force shall submit a report on its examination to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment, planning and development, children and education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or February 1, 2014, whichever is later. |
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| 34 | + | (d) Prior to providing for any application of pesticide on the grounds of any municipal park, the municipality shall, within the existing budgetary resources of such municipality, provide public notice of such application not later than twenty-four hours prior to such application, except that for an emergency application made in accordance with this section, such notice shall be given as soon as practicable. Notice under this subsection shall include (1) the name of the active ingredient of the pesticide being applied, (2) the target pest, (3) the location of the application on the grounds of the municipal park, and (4) the date or proposed date of the application. A copy of the record of each pesticide application at a municipal park shall be maintained by such municipality for a period of five years. |
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