Pesticides: aerial application.

Existing law requires the registration of pesticides, prohibits certain uses of pesticides, and authorizes the Director of Pesticide Regulation to adopt regulations to govern the possession, sale, or use of pesticides, as provided. Existing law requires the use of any pesticide by any person to be in such a manner as to prevent substantial drift to nontarget areas, and requires pesticide applications on public property which take place on school grounds, parks, or other public rights-of-way where public exposure is foreseeable to be posted with warning signs. This bill would require, with respect to aerial applications of a pesticide, the observance of a safety zone of no less than 3.3 miles from the aerial application for residential areas, including known sensitive sites, as specified. The bill would exempt from these provisions the State Department of Public Health, local vector control agencies, and mosquito abatement and vector control districts, as provided. Under existing law, a violation of the provisions of this bill would be a crime, as specified. Because this bill would create new crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.