THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

692

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to pesticides.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 149A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amended the title of part IV to read as follows:

"PART IV.  VIOLATIONS[, WARNING NOTICE,] AND PENALTIES"

     SECTION 2.  Section 149A-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  If it appears that a pesticide or device fails to comply with this chapter, the department may refer the facts with a copy of the results of the analysis or the examination of the pesticide product or device to the appropriate governmental agency for prosecution.  [A warning notice shall be issued before prosecution proceedings are initiated.]"

     SECTION 3.  Section 149A-41, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§149A-41  Violations [, warning notice,] and penalties.  [(a)  Warning notice.  Any person who violates this chapter or any rule issued under this chapter may upon the first violation be issued a written warning notice citing the specific violation and necessary corrective action.

     (b)] (a)  Administrative penalties.

     (1)  In general, any registrant, commercial applicator, wholesaler, dealer, retailer, or other distributor who violates any provision of this chapter may be assessed an administrative penalty by the board of not more than $5,000 for each offense;

     (2)  Any private applicator or other person not included in paragraph (1) who violates any provision of this chapter relating to the use of pesticides while on property owned or rented by that person or the person's employer, subsequent to receiving a written warning from the department or following a citation for a prior violation, may be assessed an administrative penalty by the board of not more than $1,000 for each offense.  Any private applicator or other person not included in paragraph (1) who violates any provision of this chapter relating to licensing, transport, sale, distribution, or application of a pesticide for commercial purposes may be assessed an administrative penalty as provided in paragraph (1);

     (3)  No administrative penalty shall be assessed unless the person charged shall have been given notice and an opportunity for a hearing on the specific charge in the county of the residence of the person charged.  The administrative penalty and any proposed action contained in the notice of finding of violation shall become a final order unless, within twenty days of receipt of the notice, the person or persons charged make a written request for a hearing.  In determining the amount of penalty, the board shall consider the appropriateness of the penalty to the size of the business of the person charged, the effect on the person's ability to continue business, and the gravity of the violation; and

     (4)  In case of inability to collect the administrative penalty or failure of any person to pay all or such portion of the administrative penalty as the board may determine, the board shall refer the matter to the attorney general, who shall recover the amount by action in the appropriate court.  For any judicial proceeding to recover the administrative penalty imposed, the attorney general need only show that notice was given, a hearing was held or the time granted for requesting a hearing has expired without such a request, the administrative penalty was imposed, and that the penalty remains unpaid.

     [(c)] (b)  Criminal penalties.

     (1)  In general, any registrant, commercial applicator, wholesaler, dealer, retailer, or other distributor who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction be fined not more than $25,000, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

     (2)  Any private applicator or other person not included in paragraph (1) who knowingly violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall on conviction be fined not more than $1,000, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

     (3)  Any person who causes physical harm to another person through the negligent application of a pesticide shall be guilty of a class C felony and shall on conviction be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.

    [(3)] (4)  Any person, who, with intent to defraud, uses or reveals information relative to formulas of products acquired under the authority of section 3, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended, shall be fined not more than $10,000, or imprisoned for not more than three years, or both.

     [(d)] (c)  Liabilities.  When construing and enforcing the provisions of this chapter, the act, omission, or failure of any officer, agent, or other person acting for or employed by any person shall in every case be also deemed to be the act, omission, or failure of such person as well as that of the person employed."

     SECTION 4.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 5.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 6.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Pesticides; Pesticide Use; Violations; Penalties

 

Description:

Removes the warning notice for first violations of chapter 149A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Hawaii pesticides law.  Makes it a class C felony for any person who causes physical harm to another person through the negligent application of a pesticide.

 

 

 

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