House Bill No. 505, introduced by Representative Chance Henry, amends several provisions of the Louisiana Pesticide Law concerning the certification of commercial applicators, pesticide salespersons, and agricultural consultants. The bill modifies the issuance of certification cards, changing the frequency from annual to every three years to align with the certification renewal period. Additionally, it increases the fee for issuing these certification cards from $20 to $60. The bill also stipulates that all unexpended and unencumbered monies in the Pesticide Fund at the end of the fiscal year will remain in the fund rather than being returned to the state general fund.

The proposed changes aim to streamline the certification process for pesticide-related professionals and ensure that funds allocated for pesticide management are preserved for future use. The bill emphasizes the importance of proper certification for individuals applying or supervising the application of restricted use pesticides, requiring successful examination completion for certification and renewal every three years. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance regulatory oversight and financial management within the state's pesticide program.

Statutes affected:
HB505 Original: 3:3242(A), 3:3246(A), 3:3251(B)(4)
HB505 Engrossed: 3:3210(B), 3:3242(A), 3:3246(A), 3:3251(B)(4)