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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disposal of agricultural pesticides. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 76, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 76.009 and 76.010 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 76.009. PESTICIDE EDUCATION PROGRAM. The department, |
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in coordination with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, |
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shall develop and implement a program to educate the public, |
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including rural and horticultural pesticide applicators, on the |
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proper use and disposal of pesticides. The program must include |
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instruction by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agents and |
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specialists on proper container handling and preparation to comply |
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with federal law. |
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Sec. 76.010. PESTICIDE EDUCATION AND DISPOSAL FUND. (a) |
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The pesticide education and disposal fund is a fund in the state |
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treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund consists of: |
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(1) money deposited to the credit of the fund under |
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Section 76.044; and |
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(2) interest earned on the investment of money in the |
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fund. |
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(b) The department shall administer the fund. Money in the |
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fund may be appropriated only for the purposes of: |
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(1) administering the program described by Section |
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76.009; and |
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(2) the pesticide waste and container collection |
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activities performed under Section 76.132. |
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SECTION 2. Section 76.044, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) Of the money received by the department under this |
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section, the department shall deposit 51 percent to the credit of |
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the pesticide education and disposal fund under Section 76.010. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 76, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 76.132 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 76.132. DISPOSAL OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE. The |
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department, in coordination with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension |
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Service, shall organize pesticide waste and container collection |
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activities statewide. The department and Texas A&M AgriLife |
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Extension Service may contract for the services of contractors that |
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are licensed in the disposal of hazardous waste under Section |
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401.202, Health and Safety Code, to implement the pesticide waste |
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and container collection activities. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |