Texas House Bill HB1530

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 3/27/09
• Voted on by House: 4/9/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/7/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/21/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/23/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to the licensing and regulation of health-related pest control by the Department of Agriculture.

Impact

The implications of HB 1530 are significant, as it centralizes authority for health-related pest control, which was previously managed by DSHS. This means that health-related pest control will now fall under the broader regulatory framework of agricultural pest control. Supporters of the bill argue that this can lead to more efficient and effective pest control policies, as agricultural and health-related pest controls will be managed under one agency, potentially improving response times and coordination.

Summary

House Bill 1530 focuses on the licensing and regulation of health-related pest control within the state of Texas. The bill proposes the transfer of regulatory authority over health-related pest control from the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to the Department of Agriculture (DOA). This change is intended to streamline the licensing process and unify the regulations governing pest control, with the DOA overseeing all categories of pest control licensing including those related to health concerns.

Contention

However, there are points of contention surrounding this bill. Critics argue that transferring authority from DSHS to DOA could diminish the focus on public health aspects of pest control, as the primary mandate of DOA is agriculture. There are concerns that this could lead to reduced regulatory scrutiny over health-related aspects of pest management, impacting community health and safety. Opponents also voice worries about the adequacy of the DOA's expertise in managing health-related pest control issues, suggesting that issues may arise as pest control methods that affect public health are treated primarily as agricultural concerns.