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Department of Pesticide Regulation builds staffing after mill assessment reforms; AB 2113 implementation underway
Summary
DPR officials said the 2024 budget and AB 2113 provide funds and positions to close longstanding underfunding, described hiring progress and early implementation actions including CalPEST and pesticide re-evaluations, and legislators asked the agency to monitor cuts and keep the Legislature informed.
The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) updated the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on implementation of the 2024 budget and AB 2113, which established a phased increase in DPR's mill assessment and added new statutory requirements and positions.
Deputy Director Alejandra Duran said a stakeholder-engaged mill study found DPR critically underfunded and that AB 2113 and the 2024 budget provide phased staffing and resources to address program gaps. DPR will receive 120 new positions over multiple fiscal years; Duran said 48 positions have been funded for the first year and DPR has initiated hiring, with roughly two-thirds of the first tranche either filled or accepted.
DPR said it has launched CalPEST, a new electronic registration system intended to replace paper processes, and is meeting statutory implementation requirements on registration timelines and pesticide re-evaluations. DPR reported it has initiated the paraquat re-evaluation work, posted pesticide reevaluation timelines and will release information on average processing times for registration decisions.
Legislators noted prior staffing cuts and asked the department to monitor proposed finance reductions, since DPR is heavily supported by special funds. Public commenters representing agricultural and household products interests urged the committee to restore any cuts that would impede DPR's ability to implement AB 2113 fully.
DPR and stakeholders emphasized the long-term goal: align fee levels with the cost of regulatory oversight to ensure program functionality, faster processing and better outreach. Committee members asked DPR to report back on hiring progress and implementation milestones in future budget cycles.
