AB 363: Pesticides: neonicotinoids for nonagricultural use: reevaluation: control measures.

Existing law, added by the Governors Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1991, creates the Department of Pesticide Regulation, which is administered by the Director of Pesticide Regulation. Existing law requires the director to endeavor to eliminate from use a pesticide that endangers the agricultural or nonagricultural environment. Existing law requires pesticides to be registered by the department, and requires that a pesticide be thoroughly evaluated prior to registration. Existing law provides for the continued evaluation of registered pesticides. Existing law requires the department, by July 1, 2018, to issue a determination with respect to its reevaluation of neonicotinoids and to adopt any control measures necessary to protect pollinator health within 2 years after making that determination. Existing law provides that every person who violates a provision of any of certain laws relating to pesticides, or a regulation issued pursuant to any of those laws, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by specified fines or by imprisonment of not more than 6 months, or both.

This bill, beginning January 1, 2025, would prohibit a person from selling, possessing, or using a pesticide containing one or more neonicotinoid pesticides, as defined, for any nonagricultural use on nonproduction outdoor ornamental plants, trees, or turf, except as provided. The bill would require the department to evaluate, taking into account relevant routes of exposure, the potential impacts of those neonicotinoid pesticide uses on pollinating insects, aquatic organisms, and human health. The bill would require the department, among other things, to issue a determination on those impacts on or before July 1, 2027, and adopt necessary control measures for the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on or before July 1, 2029.

Because the adoption of control measures for the use of neonicotinoid pesticides would require regulations, and a violation of those regulations and the above-described prohibition of the sale, possession, and use of neonicotinoid pesticides would be a crime, this 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 no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.