By Hirschi                                      H.B. No. 1726

      75R6182 CAG-F                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to an integrated pest management program at an institution

 1-3     of higher education.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 4J, Texas Structural Pest Control Act

 1-6     (Article 135b-6, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by

 1-7     amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (f) to read as

 1-8     follows:

 1-9           (d)  The board shall include in standards adopted under this

1-10     section:

1-11                 (1)  a requirement that the least hazardous [toxic]

1-12     methods available to control pests, rodents, insects, and weeds be

1-13     used; and

1-14                 (2)  a list of products that a school district is

1-15     allowed to use in its applications.

1-16           (f)  The board shall establish standards for an integrated

1-17     pest management program for an institution of higher education that

1-18     are consistent with Subsections (a) and (d) of this section. An

1-19     institution of higher education shall adopt an integrated pest

1-20     management program that incorporates the standards developed by the

1-21     board under this subsection.

1-22           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-23     (b) The Texas Structural Pest Control Board shall adopt initial

1-24     standards relating to integrated pest management programs at

 2-1     institutions of higher education not later than October 1, 1997.

 2-2           (c)  The governing board of each institution of higher

 2-3     education shall establish an integrated pest management program as

 2-4     required by this Act not later than January 1, 1998.

 2-5           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.