HB-4729, As Passed House, December 17, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE BILL No. 4729

 

May 22, 2003, Introduced by Rep. Gleason and referred to the Committee on Great Lakes and Tourism.

        

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled                                             

                                                                                

    "Natural resources and environmental protection act,"                       

                                                                                

    by amending sections 8313, 8314, 8327, 8329, and 8333 (MCL                  

                                                                                

    324.8313, 324.8314, 324.8327, 324.8329, and 324.8333), as amended           

                                                                                

    by 2002 PA 418.                                                             

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 8313.  (1) Commercial applicators who hold themselves                  

                                                                                

2   out to the public as being in the business of applying pesticides           

                                                                                

3   shall obtain a commercial applicator license for each place of              

                                                                                

4   business.                                                                   

                                                                                

5       (2) A commercial applicator shall be certified under section                

                                                                                

6   8312 and shall have at least 1 of the following in order to                 

                                                                                

7   qualify for a license:                                                      

                                                                                

8       (a) Service for not less than 2 application seasons as an                   

                                                                                

9   employee of a commercial applicator or comparable education and             

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   experience as determined by the director.                                   

                                                                                

2       (b) A baccalaureate degree from a recognized college or                     

                                                                                

3   university in a discipline that provides education regarding                

                                                                                

4   pests and the control of pests and 1 application season of                  

                                                                                

5   service as an employee of a commercial applicator.                          

                                                                                

6       (3) The commercial applicator license application shall be on               

                                                                                

7   a form provided by the director and shall contain information               

                                                                                

8   regarding the applicant's qualifications and proposed operations,           

                                                                                

9   the type of equipment to be used by the applicant, and other                

                                                                                

10  information considered pertinent by the director.                           

                                                                                

11      (4) An application for a commercial applicator license shall                

                                                                                

12  be accompanied by the appropriate fee as provided in section                

                                                                                

13  8317.                                                                       

                                                                                

14      (5) An application for a commercial applicator license shall                

                                                                                

15  be accompanied by proof of sufficient financial responsibility as           

                                                                                

16  prescribed by rule.                                                         

                                                                                

17      (6) The director may restrict an applicant to use only a                    

                                                                                

18  certain type of equipment or pesticide upon finding that the                

                                                                                

19  applicant is qualified to use only that type.                               

                                                                                

20      (7) The director may refuse to issue or renew a commercial                  

                                                                                

21  applicator license if the applicant demonstrates insufficient               

                                                                                

22  knowledge of an item in the application, or has unsatisfied                 

                                                                                

23  judgments under this part,  or  a rule promulgated under this               

                                                                                

24  part, part 33, or a rule promulgated under part 33 against him or           

                                                                                

25  her, or if the equipment used by the applicant is unsafe or                 

                                                                                

26  inadequate for pesticide applications.                                      

                                                                                

27      (8) The director may at any time deny, revoke, or suspend a                 


                                                                                

1   commercial applicator license for a violation of this part,  or a           

                                                                                

2   violation of  an order issued under this part, part 33, or an               

                                                                                

3   order issued under part 33 or upon conviction under this part,              

                                                                                

4   part 33, FIFRA, or a state pesticide law of a reciprocating state           

                                                                                

5   in accordance with section 8320.                                            

                                                                                

6       (9) The director shall inform an applicant who is denied a                  

                                                                                

7   commercial applicator license the reasons why the license was               

                                                                                

8   denied.                                                                     

                                                                                

9       (10) A person subject to the licensing requirements in this                 

                                                                                

10  section shall only apply pesticides that are registered with, or            

                                                                                

11  subject to, either United States EPA or this state's laws and               

                                                                                

12  rules.                                                                      

                                                                                

13      (11) A person subject to the licensing requirements in this                 

                                                                                

14  section shall not represent that a pesticide application has                

                                                                                

15  characteristics, ingredients, uses, benefits, or qualities that             

                                                                                

16  it does not have.                                                           

                                                                                

17      (12) A person subject to the licensing requirements in this                 

                                                                                

18  section shall not represent that a pesticide application is                 

                                                                                

19  necessary to control a pest when the pest is not present or                 

                                                                                

20  likely to occur.                                                            

                                                                                

21      Sec. 8314.  (1) A person shall not apply a pesticide for a                  

                                                                                

22  commercial purpose or in the course of his or her employment                

                                                                                

23  unless that person is either a certified applicator or a                    

                                                                                

24  registered applicator.  A person may apply a general use                    

                                                                                

25  pesticide for a private agricultural purpose without being a                

                                                                                

26  certified applicator or registered applicator.                              

                                                                                

27      (2) A person who is not subject to the licensing requirement                


                                                                                

1   in section 8313 may apply a general use ready-to-use pesticide              

                                                                                

2   without being a certified applicator or a registered applicator.            

                                                                                

3       (3) A commercial certified or registered applicator must be                 

                                                                                

4   at least 18 years of age.                                                   

                                                                                

5       (4) A person who is not subject to the licensing requirements               

                                                                                

6   in section 8313 may apply a general use antimicrobial pesticide             

                                                                                

7   without being a certified or registered applicator if there is no           

                                                                                

8   potential for movement of an antimicrobial pesticide to affect              

                                                                                

9   surface water or groundwater.                                               

                                                                                

10      (5) A commercial applicator shall only make pesticide                       

                                                                                

11  applications in the category for which he or she is certified or            

                                                                                

12  registered.                                                                 

                                                                                

13      (6) A registered applicator shall do all of the following:                  

                                                                                

14      (a) Complete a training program that is approved by the                     

                                                                                

15  director and conducted by a trainer who has the minimum                     

                                                                                

16  qualifications established by rule.  The training program for               

                                                                                

17  applicators who apply pesticides for private agricultural                   

                                                                                

18  purposes may utilize other methods of training and testing as               

                                                                                

19  provided in section  8311(1)  8311(3).                                      

                                                                                

20      (b) Pass a test that is approved by the director.                           

                                                                                

21      (c) Possess a valid registration certificate issued by the                  

                                                                                

22  director.                                                                   

                                                                                

23      (7) A trainer shall issue a temporary registration to an                    

                                                                                

24  applicant who completes an approved training program and passes a           

                                                                                

25  test administered by the director.  A temporary registration is             

                                                                                

26  valid from the time it is issued until the applicant receives a             

                                                                                

27  registration certificate from the director.  The department shall           


                                                                                

1   provide the applicant with the registration certificate upon                

                                                                                

2   payment of the fee provided for in section 8317 and when the                

                                                                                

3   approved trainer completes and submits a program completion                 

                                                                                

4   form.                                                                       

                                                                                

5       (8) A registered applicator who applies general use                         

                                                                                

6   pesticides and is not subject to commercial pesticide applicator            

                                                                                

7   licensing requirements is exempt from the provisions requiring              

                                                                                

8   supervision by a certified applicator.                                      

                                                                                

9       (9) A person shall display his or her registration                          

                                                                                

10  certificate upon the request of the director.                               

                                                                                

11      (10) A registered applicator shall complete a training                      

                                                                                

12  program every 3 years to be eligible to renew his or her                    

                                                                                

13  registration.                                                               

                                                                                

14      (11) The director may at any time deny, revoke, or suspend a                

                                                                                

15  certification or registration for a violation of this part or               

                                                                                

16  part 33 or upon conviction under this part, part 33, FIFRA, or a            

                                                                                

17  state pesticide law of a reciprocating state in accordance with             

                                                                                

18  section 8320.                                                               

                                                                                

19      (12) The director shall develop and provide the documents and               

                                                                                

20  forms necessary to implement this section.                                  

                                                                                

21      Sec. 8327.  (1)  When  If the director has probable cause to                

                                                                                

22  believe that an applicator is using or intending to use a                   

                                                                                

23  pesticide in an unsafe or inadequate manner or in a manner                  

                                                                                

24  inconsistent with its labeling, or in violation of part 33 or               

                                                                                

25  rules promulgated under part 33, the director shall order the               

                                                                                

26  applicator to cease the use of or refrain from the intended use             

                                                                                

27  of the pesticide.  The order may be either oral or written and              


                                                                                

1   shall inform the applicator of the reason for the order.                    

                                                                                

2       (2) Upon receipt of the order, the applicator shall                         

                                                                                

3   immediately comply with the  director's  order.  Failure to                 

                                                                                

4   comply constitutes cause for revocation of the applicator's                 

                                                                                

5   license or certification or registration and subjects the                   

                                                                                

6   applicator to the penalty imposed under section 8333.                       

                                                                                

7       (3) The director shall rescind the order upon being satisfied               

                                                                                

8   that the applicator has complied with the order.                            

                                                                                

9       Sec. 8329.  (1) When the director has reasonable suspicion                  

                                                                                

10  that a pesticide or device is distributed, stored, transported,             

                                                                                

11  offered for sale, or used in violation of this part or part 33,             

                                                                                

12  the director may issue an order to stop the prohibited conduct.             

                                                                                

13  The person shall immediately comply with the order.                         

                                                                                

14      (2) A pesticide or device that is transported, or is in                     

                                                                                

15  original unbroken packages, or is sold or offered for sale in               

                                                                                

16  this state, or is imported from a foreign country, in violation             

                                                                                

17  of this part, is liable to be proceeded against in any district             

                                                                                

18  court in the district where it is found and seized for                      

                                                                                

19  confiscation by a process in rem for condemnation if:                       

                                                                                

20      (a) In the case of a pesticide, any of the following                        

                                                                                

21  circumstances exist:                                                        

                                                                                

22                                                                               (i) It is adulterated or misbranded.                                                

                                                                                

23      (ii) It is not registered pursuant to this part.                             

                                                                                

24      (iii) Its labeling fails to bear the information required by                 

                                                                                

25  FIFRA or by regulations promulgated under FIFRA.                            

                                                                                

26      (iv) Its coloring is different than that required under                      

                                                                                

27  FIFRA.                                                                      


                                                                                

1       (v) Any claims or directions for its use differ from the                    

                                                                                

2   representations made with its registration.                                 

                                                                                

3       (b) In the case of a device, it is misbranded.                              

                                                                                

4       (c) In the case of a pesticide or device, when used in                      

                                                                                

5   accordance with the requirements imposed under this part it                 

                                                                                

6   causes unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.                     

                                                                                

7       (3) If the pesticide or device is condemned, it shall be                    

                                                                                

8   disposed of by destruction or sale as the court directs.  If the            

                                                                                

9   pesticide or device is sold, the proceeds less the court costs              

                                                                                

10  shall be credited to the general fund.  A pesticide or device               

                                                                                

11  shall not be sold contrary to this part or the laws of the                  

                                                                                

12  jurisdiction in which it is sold.  Upon payment of the costs of             

                                                                                

13  the condemnation proceedings and the execution and delivery of a            

                                                                                

14  sufficient bond conditioned that it shall not be sold or disposed           

                                                                                

15  of contrary to this part or the laws of the jurisdiction in which           

                                                                                

16  it is sold, the court may direct that it be delivered to the                

                                                                                

17  owner.  The proceedings of condemnation cases shall conform as              

                                                                                

18  nearly as possible to proceedings in admiralty, except that                 

                                                                                

19  either party may demand trial by jury of an issue of fact joined            

                                                                                

20  in a case, and the proceedings shall be brought by and in the               

                                                                                

21  name of the people of the state.                                            

                                                                                

22      (4) Court costs, fees, storage, and other proper expenses                   

                                                                                

23  shall be awarded against the person, intervening as claimant of             

                                                                                

24  the pesticide or device upon entry of a decree of condemnation.             

                                                                                

25      Sec. 8333.  (1) A person who violates this part or part 33                  

                                                                                

26  is subject to the penalties and remedies provided in this part              

                                                                                

27  regardless of whether he or she acted alone or through an                   


                                                                                

1   employee or agent.                                                          

                                                                                

2       (2) The director, upon finding after notice and an                          

                                                                                

3   opportunity for a hearing that a person has violated or attempted           

                                                                                

4   to violate any provision of this part or part 33, may impose an             

                                                                                

5   administrative fine of not more than $1,000.00 for each                     

                                                                                

6   violation.  of this part.                                                   

                                                                                

7       (3) If the director finds that a violation or attempted                     

                                                                                

8   violation occurred despite the exercise of due care or did not              

                                                                                

9   result in significant harm to human health or the environment,              

                                                                                

10  the director may issue a warning instead of imposing an                     

                                                                                

11  administrative fine.                                                        

                                                                                

12      (4) The director shall advise the attorney general of the                   

                                                                                

13  failure of a person to pay an administrative fine imposed under             

                                                                                

14  this section.  The attorney general may bring an action in a                

                                                                                

15  court of competent jurisdiction for the failure to pay an                   

                                                                                

16  administrative fine imposed under this section.                             

                                                                                

17      (5) A person who violates  this part  or attempts to violate                

                                                                                

18  this part or part 33 is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by               

                                                                                

19  imprisonment for not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than           

                                                                                

20  $5,000.00, or both, for each offense.                                       

                                                                                

21      (6) The director may bring an action to enjoin a violation                  

                                                                                

22  of this part  or  an  attempted violation of this part or part             

                                                                                

23  33 in a court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which              

                                                                                

24  the violation occurs or is about to occur.                                  

                                                                                

25      (7) The attorney general may file a civil action in which the               

                                                                                

26  court may impose on any person who violates  this part  or                  

                                                                                

27  attempts to violate this part or part 33 a civil fine of not more           


                                                                                

1   than $5,000.00 for each violation or attempted violation.  In               

                                                                                

2   addition, the attorney general may bring an action in circuit               

                                                                                

3   court to recover the reasonable costs of the investigation from             

                                                                                

4   any person who violated  this part  or attempted to violate this            

                                                                                

5   part or part 33.  Money recovered under this subsection shall be            

                                                                                

6   forwarded to the state treasurer for deposit into the pesticide             

                                                                                

7   control fund created in section 8318.                                       

                                                                                

8       (8) In defense of an action filed under this section, in                    

                                                                                

9   addition to any other lawful defense, a person may present                  

                                                                                

10  evidence as an affirmative defense that, at the time of the                 

                                                                                

11  alleged violation  of this part  or attempted violation of this             

                                                                                

12  part or part 33, he or she was in compliance with label                     

                                                                                

13  directions,  and  with this part  and  or part 33, respectively,            

                                                                                

14  and with rules promulgated under this part or part 33,                      

                                                                                

15  respectively, at the time of the alleged violation.                         

                                                                                

16      (9) A civil cause of action does not arise for injuries to                  

                                                                                

17  any person or property if a private agricultural applicator, or a           

                                                                                

18  registered applicator who stores, handles, or applies pesticides            

                                                                                

19  only for a private agricultural purpose, was not grossly                    

                                                                                

20  negligent and stored, handled, or applied pesticides in                     

                                                                                

21  compliance with the pesticide labeling and with this part  ,  and           

                                                                                

22  part 33 and rules promulgated under this part  , and the                    

                                                                                

23  pesticide labeling  or part 33.                                             

                                                                                

24      (10) Applicable provisions of the revised judicature act of                 

                                                                                

25  1961, 1961 PA 236, MCL 600.101 to 600.9948, apply to civil                  

                                                                                

26  actions filed pursuant to this part.                                        

                                                                                

27      Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act does not take                      


                                                                                

1   effect unless Senate Bill No. ______ or House Bill No. 4730                 

                                                                                

2   (request no. 02915'03) of the 92nd Legislature is enacted into              

                                                                                

3   law.