People must get a pesticide-use permit before they can buy or use a restricted-use pesticide.
(a) Each person shall obtain a pesticide-use permit from the commissioner before the person is eligible to purchase and use a restricted-use pesticide. Application forms for such permits shall be furnished by the commissioner, and the permit shall be valid and effective for a period of time to be established by rules and regulations of the State Board of Agriculture and Industries unless sooner revoked by the commissioner for cause as specified in rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner with approval of the board. (b) Before any person is authorized to purchase and use restricted-use pesticides for application or use thereof, the person shall meet certain qualifications to be prescribed pursuant to rules and regulations of the commissioner approved by the board. The regulations shall be designed to satisfy the requirements of the federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, as amended, and to determine whether the user or applicator of restricted-use pesticides can use and apply such products in a manner that will not endanger or be injurious to human health and nontarget animals, wildlife, vegetation, crops, and water or be detrimental to the general environment and whether such user is familiar with methods of safe storage, handling, use, applications, and disposal of such pesticides and pesticide containers so as to avoid hazardous effects that may result from any improper use, handling, or application of such products. (c) In addition to any other requirement, the applicant, for initial issuance or any reissuance of a permit to purchase and use restricted-use pesticides, shall pay to the commissioner a permit fee of not less than $15 nor more than $60 per category of certification for a commercial pesticide applicator permit, nor more than $40 for certification as a private pesticide applicator to be determined by the board through the adoption of rules and regulations. In determining the exact amount of the fee, the board shall take into consideration whether the permit holder is purchasing and using restricted-use pesticides for private or commercial purposes. Pending the adoption of rules, the permit fee shall be $15. All moneys collected under this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Agricultural Fund.