Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Pesticide Handler Supervision topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee amends pesticide rule change to let handlers mix, load and transport under supervision
Summary
Representative Nelson's House File 2667 would narrow a recent federal-conformity change so persons defined as "handlers" may mix, load and transport restricted-use pesticides under the supervision of a licensed applicator; the committee adopted an A1 amendment adding 'transporting' and laid the bill over.
House File 2667, carried by Representative Rick Nelson, would revise language adopted last year that had required assistants who mix and load restricted-use pesticides to hold the same license as the applicator.
Nelson told the Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee the earlier federal-conformity bill unintentionally expanded licensing requirements so that anyone assisting with mixing and loading had to hold applicator credentials. "House file 2,667 changes this requirement as long as the assistant is working directly under the supervision of the licensed applicator," Nelson said, explaining the bill creates a handler definition sourced from the Code of Federal Regulations and permits the handler to mix, handle, load and, by amendment, transport the restricted pesticide "under the supervision of the licensed applicator."
Bruce Clavin, representing the Minnesota Wheat Growers Association and the Red River Valley Sugar Beet Growers, testified in favor and described the statutory change as restoring the prior supervisory model. Clavin said the licensed applicator remains responsible for training and required safety measures under the Code of Federal Regulations.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) advised the committee the change, as amended, would apply to all categories of applicators. Division director Josh Stanford confirmed the bill "would apply to all 3" categories noted by legislators (commercial applicators, noncommercial applicators and private pesticide applicators).
Representative Hansen raised worker-safety concerns, pointing out that many accidents and spills occur during mixing, loading and transport and that employer direction could place employees at risk. Nelson and supporters said the bill does not change licensing requirements for those who actually apply pesticides; it clarifies supervision for handlers who are assisting in non-application tasks.
The committee adopted Representative Nelson’s A1 amendment to insert "transporting" alongside mixing and loading, and then laid House File 2667, as amended, over for further consideration.
Action: Representative Nelson moved the bill and moved the A1 amendment (adding "transporting"); the committee adopted the amendment and laid the bill over.
