Expand Agricultural Chemical Management Program Protect Surface Water

Commissioner of agriculture - agricultural chemical management plans - expansion to include surface water - appropriation. Under current law, the commissioner of agriculture is responsible for the management of the use of agricultural chemicals to protect groundwater, and the commissioner adopts rules establishing agricultural management plans for this purpose. The act expands the scope of the commissioner's agricultural management plans to include the protection of state waters, which includes surface and subsurface waters. The act appropriates $239,592 to the department of agriculture from the plant health, pest control, and environmental protection cash fund to implement the act, of which $21,875 is reappropriated to the department of public health and environment and $1,000 is reappropriated to the department of personnel. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.) Read More