Pesticides: aerial spraying: notice from aerial pesticide sprayers and mosquito and vector control districts.

Existing law regulates the use of pesticides and the business of pest control, and requires a person who operates a pest control business to be licensed by the Director of Pesticide Regulation and registered by the county agricultural commissioner. Existing law also requires a pest control aircraft pilot to be registered with the Department of Pesticide Regulation. A violation of those provisions is a misdemeanor. Existing law separately provides for the formation of mosquito abatement and vector control districts, and prescribes the powers, functions, and duties of those districts. This bill would require pest control operators, pest control businesses, and mosquito abatement and vector control districts, at least 7 days before administering pesticides by aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems over a residential area, to notify various people and entities, including, but not limited to, affected governmental agencies, school districts, and chambers of commerce, except as specified due to the presence of an emergency outbreak that threatens the public health or other extenuating circumstances that warrant an immediate response. The bill would specify the information required to be included in the notice. By imposing additional duties on local governmental agencies and because a violation of the bill's provisions relating to pest control operators and pest control businesses would be a crime, 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 with regard to certain mandates no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. With regard to any other mandates, this bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs so mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.