A private applicator must be licensed or certified to use certain pesticides or herbicides, and license applicants must file the required application, fee, and any required training or residency-process paperwork.
Sec. 76.112. PRIVATE APPLICATOR. (a) A person is a private applicator if the person uses or supervises the use of a restricted-use or state-limited-use pesticide or regulated herbicide for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity: (1) on property owned or rented by the person or the person's employer or under the person's general control; or (2) on the property of another person if applied without compensation other than the trading of personal services, or services related to agricultural production, including the use of equipment, between producers of agricultural commodities. (b) A private applicator is required to be either licensed or certified to use restricted-use or state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides. (c) An employee qualifies as a private applicator under Subsection (a)(1) of this section only if he is employed to perform other duties related to agricultural production and provide labor for the pesticide application but does not provide the necessary equipment or pesticide. (d) A private applicator who is required to be licensed by Section 76.105 of this code shall apply to the department for a private applicator license. (e) A person shall apply for an original or renewal private applicator license on forms prescribed by the department. The application shall include information as required by department rule and must be accompanied by a fee, as fixed by the department. (f) The department may not issue an original private applicator license before the applicant has attended a training course conducted by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service or another training course approved by the department. The department shall approve appropriate training courses developed under the coordination of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and to be conducted by other governmental agencies or nongovernmental entities. The training course shall cover the use, effects, and risks of restricted-use and state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides. (g) The department may not issue a private applicator license if the applicant has had a license issued under this subchapter revoked within the last two years. (h) An individual to whom a private applicator license is issued is authorized to purchase, use, and supervise the use of restricted-use and state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides in all license use categories and subcategories for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity on property described by Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section. (i) As a condition to issuance of a private applicator license, an applicant located outside this state shall file with the department a written instrument designating a resident agent for service of process in actions taken in administration and enforcement of this chapter. Instead of designating a resident agent, the applicant may designate in writing the secretary of state as the recipient of service of process for the applicant in this state. (j) For purposes of this chapter, a certified private applicator is a private applicator who has been previously certified under the department's voluntary certification program and who holds a private applicator certificate dated prior to January 10, 1989. A certified private applicator is authorized to use restricted-use and state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides in all license use categories and subcategories for the purpose of producing an agricultural commodity on property described by Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section. A certified private applicator may not supervise the use of restricted-use and state-limited-use pesticides or regulated herbicides. Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1200, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 2590, ch. 693, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 230, Sec. 96, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 419, Sec. 2.40, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1369, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.