HB 2204 -- Pesticides

Sponsor:  Britt

Currently, anyone who sells or commercially transports pesticides
pays an annual $15 registration fee for each product to the
General Revenue Fund.  Beginning January 1, 2003, this bill
increases the annual fee to $125 and changes the late renewal
penalty from $5 to $50.  For each registration, $15 is credited
to the General Revenue Fund and remaining moneys are deposited in
the Pesticide Project Fund.  If the unobligated balance of the
Pesticide Project Fund exceeds $5 million, registration fees are
reduced temporarily to $15 until the fund balance reaches $3
million.  Pesticides must be registered as new products if there
is a change in company name, trade name, active ingredient,
concentration, or federal registration number.

The Pesticide Project Fund is administered by the Plant
Industries Division of the Department of Agriculture.  Up to 20%
of the fund may be used for administration and pesticide
registration.  Beginning July 1, 2003, up to 80% of the fund may
be used for designated projects, including pesticide and
agriculture education, applicator training, pesticide and water
quality monitoring, container disposal initiatives, integrated
pest management, and incentives for value-added production and
processing.  An advisory committee will evaluate projects and
recommend funding.  The committee must include at least one
member each from the agricultural pesticide industry, the
consumer pesticide industry, farm advocacy groups, commodity
groups, and the general public.

Allocation of project funds requires an executed memorandum of
understanding between the department and the applicant.  Before
each fiscal year, applicants must submit proposals to the
department by March 31.  Successful applicants must submit a
project report within 30 days after the end of the fiscal year.
Project revenue that is not spent or obligated reverts to the
fund 60 days after the project is completed.  The department may
require applicants that do not complete their projects as
intended to remit partial or full repayments.  The department
will provide an annual report to the General Assembly.

The bill also allows the department to deny, cancel, suspend, or
revoke the registration of a pesticide if the product is found to
be harmful to humans or the environment.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:03 am